Forsi Jr.

Theodore John Forsi Jr., 71, of Soldotna, Alaska, died Tuesday, November 1, 2016, at home while sleeping peacefully.

Ted was born in Jackson, Mich., on September 17, 1945, the eldest son of Gladys Virginia and Theodore John Forsi. Ted had five siblings, all with the “Forsi” sense of humor and intense love of life. Ted moved to Auburn, Washington, as a young boy, and graduated from Auburn High School in 1963.

Ted attended Blue Mountain Community College for two years, Washington State University for three years, and finished his Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering in 1968. In college Ted was voted student body president. He was a gifted student who excelled in school academics and athletics. He was a voracious reader as a child and an adult. His favorite book was “The Monarch of Deadman Bay.” It inspired his dream of moving to Alaska to hunt and fish in the beautiful wilderness. Ted became a pilot in 1973, and flew into many remote areas of the state.

Ted’s first engineering position was with the Washington State Highway Department in Spokane in 1968. He met and married Machonne Gould, his first wife, and they moved to Alaska in 1972, and later divorced in 1976. They had two children together.

Ted worked in Alaska starting in the government sector, and would work both private and government for the duration of his career. He started Ted Forsi and Associates as principal engineer in 1978, where he worked on many projects in Anchorage and on the Kenai Peninsula. Ted spent many hours between the two locations, and had fond memories spending time with his friends at the Hotel Captain Cook Athletic Club. He was an avid runner and racquetball player during those years.

In 1987 Ted married Robin Smith, with whom he had two children, and moved full-time to the Kenai Peninsula, where he continued as a consulting engineer with his office in Soldotna. Ted also began his love of guiding, and guided as a registered fishing guide on the Kenai River for 20 years, and big game hunting guide for brown bear, moose and caribou in the Illiamna area up to May of this year.

Ted had an absolute passion for playing basketball. He had the opportunity to play at Auburn High School, Blue Mountain Community College and the city league for both Anchorage and Soldotna teams. Ted coached many teams with all four of his children, including coaching for the Cook Inlet Academy Eagle Girls, 2007 and 2008, taking them to their first state championship in almost 20 years where they placed fifth and third consecutively.

He was one of the original founders of Safari Club International in 1989 on the Kenai Peninsula and served as its first president.

Ted was a gifted man. He had an intelligent mind, and a great sense of humor. He was truly one of a kind. He loved adventure, family, friends and appreciated all that the Lord had blessed him with.

He is predeceased by his baby niece Shelby Crosky of Anchorage, brother Robert Forsi of Oregon, sister Sheri Forsi of Oregon, brother-in-law Jim Schweigart of Oregon and parents Ted Forsi and Gladys Forsi, both of Washington.

He is survived by his wife Robin Forsi of Soldotna; children Ericka Forsi (Washington) and T.J. Forsi (Soldotna) from first marriage, and John Forsi (Arizona) and Brooke Martin and her husband Clay Martin of (Oregon) by his second marriage; and his sisters Mary Ahmann and husband Mike (Washington), Donna Jean Schweigart (Oregon), and Connie Crosky and her husband Jeff from Anchorage. He is also survived by many cousins, nephews and nieces, along with many family members on his wife’s side.

The memorial service for Ted will be held Wednesday, November 16th, 2016, at Cook Inlet Academy gymnasium, Soldotna, Alaska, at 5:30 p.m. Refreshments will be served after the memorial.

The family asks in Ted’s honor that you might take a child hunting, fishing, or camping this coming year. Donations can be made to the Boys and Girls Club basketball program in Kenai.

We will miss you greatly Ted — gone but never forgotten.