Posted by Karl Oelke on July 3, 2007:

Tony (Rooster) Forster's memorial service was held on Friday, 22 June, at the Mission Basilica San Juan Capistrano, CA, in the form of a funeral mass. Music was provided by the Mariachi Imperial de Mexico. The music, Father Holquin's homily, and dear friend since childhood Tony Moiso's heartfelt and appropriately humorous eulogy shaped a warm, poignant farewell for our beloved Rooster. What's hard to convey is the verve, the zest the Mariachi Imperial added to the service, especially in the august solemnity of Mission Basilica. The effect was all Rooster. A dozen classmates came to pay tribute: Dan (and Joan) Carter, Don DeJardin, Frank Harlem, Herb Johnson, Harry (and Carolyn) Kramp, Tom Mason, Joe (and Inez) McElroy, Bill (and Mary) Melnik, Karl (and Sue) Oelke, Dick Schonberger, Jack Tancredi, and Paul (and Virginia) Vanture. Well over a thousand people crammed the Basilica (standing room only), with estimates going as high as 1400 people. After the mass, most walked in solemn procession to the old Mission graveyard about a mile away, following the priests and Tony's ashes to the place of interment. The cemetery is closed, now, to all except the pioneer families who settled the town, and Tony's family and contributions rank high in that very small circle of people. The procession crossed I-5 and closed traffic for about an hour. After interment, people moved to a ranch for the reception, again involving hundreds of people in a large open area, well stocked with Mexican food, a free flowing bar, and good humor abounding. Mariachi Imperial continued to provide music and an atmosphere Rooster would have loved. The West Point contingent said a few words and sang the Alma Mater in honor of Tony. Many people commented that West Point was a huge part of Rooster's life and a source of intense pride to him and his family. Well done, dear friend. Be thou at peace.

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