It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of artist Richard Wayne Forster, 79, of West Hurley, NY. Richard passed away on Friday, October 11, 2024 at Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital in Poughkeepsie, NY from complications due to a recently detected brain mass.
He was born on September 3, 1945 in New York City and was the only child of the late Evelyn Bass Forster and Harold Forster.
Richard’s dedication to painting started in his early childhood. He was fascinated by the smell of paint and the intensity of color. He attended High School of Art and Design, Pratt Institute, and the Art Students League. He was forever changed by a retrospective of the “New York School” of painters and the Whitney Museum in the 60’s and decided to become a non-representational painter. He was also an accomplished black and white photographer.
After moving to the Hudson Valley in the late 60’s he began a career as psychiatric social worker and became known for his expertise in handling difficult patients.
When his hearing diminished due to a hereditary condition he happily retired and resumed painting full time. Soon after, he received a cochlear implant which was always a difficult thing to embrace as speech recognition was the most difficult sound to process and he was virtually deaf without it.
Richard was a lover of the outdoors, the Blues, old classic movies, a fine red wine, professional tennis, and was a voracious reader of many genres.
He will be missed by all who came to know this most interesting man.
He is survived by his life partner, Jaime Surgil.
A memorial gathering will take place in the future.
Join the family! 
