Joseph T. Forgatch

March 10, 1920 - September 12, 2015 Joseph T. Forgatch went to be with his Lord on September 12, 2015 at the age of 95. He lived life fully, was sharp as a tack, and was blessed to play his last nine holes of golf in August with his brand new Big Bertha driver. Joe, as he was always known, was born in Orient, IL of Czech parents on March 10, 1920. He was the youngest of eight children with four brothers and a father, all who worked the coal mine. He graduated from West Frankfurt, IL Community High School; attended Woodrow Wilson law school in Atlanta, GA; and graduated with a business degree from the University of Southern California. He was a devoted Trojan and his license plate read JTF4USC. He was preceded in death by his beloved and wonderful wife, Gerri, in 2004, by his parents, Andrew and Anna Forgatch, and six brothers and sisters. Joe had a very interesting business and military career. He worked for the Tennessee Valley Authority in Decatur, AL; the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Miami, FL, and Atlanta, GA; the Counter Intelligence Corps/Military Intelligence in Oak Ridge, TN where the splitting of the atom and the making of the atomic bomb was done (Joe was fortunate to know of the making of the atomic bomb before the actual bombing took place in Japan); a national CPA firm known at that time as Touche, Niven, Bailey and Smart in Los Angeles; as Chief Financial Officer for California Federal Savings and Loan, from where he retired in 1983; and as CFO at California Science Center, from where he had his second retirement in 1999. San Marino was home for 48 years of his life before moving to his residence at Atherton where he lived for the last four years. Joe loved the outdoors; gardening and taking care of his yard; fishing for trout in the lakes of British Columbia; both coaching and attending Greg's baseball games and attending Pam and Nancy's equestrian events; playing golf; and attending many local and out of state USC Trojans football and basketball games. He was an avid supporter of his nine grandchildren as they participated in their sporting events and dancing activities. Joe loved his church, Emmaus Lutheran, and was a very active member, leading many major functions. Joe was also a member of the Rotary Club (Wilshire), Jonathan Club and the San Gabriel Country Club. He is survived by his wife Joy, whom he married in 2006; his sister Pauline; his daughter Pam and son-in-law Larry, grandchildren Maddy and her fiancé Matt, Valerie and her husband Carson and great-grandchildren Jacob and Caroline; his daughter Nancy and son-in-law Mike and grandchildren Patrick, Robbie and Katherine; and son Greg and daughter-in-law Lorrie and grandchildren Matt, Joe, Warren and William. The private burial service was held at the Rose Hills Cemetery. The memorial service was held at Emmaus Lutheran Church in Alhambra, CA, on Wednesday, September 16. Contributions in memory of Joseph T. Forgatch can be made to Emmaus Lutheran Church (Share the Vision), 840 S. Almansor St., Alhambra, CA 91801.