Jon Forster says he has retired – but he doesn’t seem to be slowing down. He has officially retired after working some 20 years in NYC as a community organizer. For the last 20 years, he has also served as a union organizer and elected officer with Local 375/ District Council 37/ AFSCME, which represents the 7,000 architects, engineers and scientists employed by the City of New York. Having “retired,” he is now working in NY and nationally to persuade labor unions to become much more involved in the fight against climate change.
This is a passionate mission for Jon, who considers climate change “one of the most important and devastating issues of our time.” Jon invites others who are also working on this issue, or are simply interested, to contact him directly: 4unionnow@gmail.com.
As I wrote the column for the most recent issue of the Alumni Review, I was sure Jon was concentrating mainly on the weather forecast for the Hudson River Valley on September 9 -- when his daughter Tatiana and her fiance, Chris, planned to be married. Characteristically hopeful but pragmatic, Jon said then, “We’re hoping for a warm, sunny day, but regardless, we will have good food and great wine!”
Well, as you see, Jon's concentration paid off. For Jon, his wife Lori Bezahler, Tatiana and Chris, it was a beautiful day on the Hudson River and a wonderful ceremony. Click on any photo to enlarge it. And by the way, that's Emily Simon K'75 speaking at the wedding!
