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In memory of

Susan Forster

Richmond, CA, USA

1960 - May 13, 2021

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Alternative Technologies lost one of our own, Susan Forster, on May 13, 2021.

Susan started at Alternative in 2013, hired by Catalin for the Telecom Department.  Susan had had a long career before that, working for the beloved East Bay bookstore, Pegasus Books.  By the end of her time here, she was an expert in our cloud platforms, supporting both our clients and the entire Telecom staff with her deep knowledge and ability to explain anything to anyone. 

In 2014, Susan was diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer. Having successfully defeated non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma in the early 1990s, Susan was not daunted by this new challenge, and after surgery, treatment, and a grueling physical therapy routine to regain her ability to walk after an unexpected side effect from the surgery, Susan was again declared cancer-free for a time. In 2017, when the cancer came back, Susan again fought with fierce hope and determination.

From Alternative’s founder, Jerry: “Though quiet by nature, Susan had an iron will and a can-do attitude. To say she was smart is an understatement. Her influences on our various administrative systems were key to making Alternative what it is today. But that does not define Susan. She lived with closeness to cancer and mortality with extraordinary grace and equanimity. There are few people I can say are a true inspiration, but Susan is just one of those people. Her passing reminds us that we are all here for a limited duration and that we should use this time to be better people to all those around us.”

 Susan loved books, movies, music (she had a beautiful singing voice and played piano), gardening (she made her garden a haven for birds), textile and fine arts (crochet, knitting, sewing, painting), the podcast Pod Save America, and generally learning and trying new things. She was a self-taught expert at Excel and PhotoShop, dabbled in writing code, and picked up new technical skills whenever they would come in handy. She was an immensely competent, thoughtful, and kind member of our community, and she will be deeply missed. We send our love and our thoughts to her friends and family, including her two cats, Frosted Mini and Cocoa Puff.

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In lieu of flowers, consider a gift to Women's Cancer Resource Center.

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