Donald Bret Forsyth

Donald passed away peacefully with his wife at his side at Kaiser hospital in San Rafael on Wednesday, August 26th.

Born to Jane Soots and Lorin Forsyth in San Diego on Coronado Island while Lorin was stationed there with the U.S. Navy.  Donald lived in Southern California until his father became a State Park Ranger and moved the family all over the state from San Clemente to Mt. Palomar to the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, where Donald grew up.  As a teenager they lived at Stinson Beach where Donald was a surfer.  He graduated from Tamalpais High School, and attended College of Marin until he was drafted in 1968.

He met Bill Robertson at the Oakland Induction Center and the two became friends, going through boot camp and NCO School together.  Bill set up Donald on a blind date with his girlfriend’s sister, Alice Ludditt, in April 1969.  That introduction turned into 54 years of marriage.   Donald was wounded in Vietnam in June of 1969 and spent six months recovering in Letterman Army Medical Center at the Presidio in San Francisco.  When he was released in December, Alice and Donald went with his parents to Reno to get married.

Donald finished his education with the GI Bill, graduating from San Francisco State with a teaching credential in Industrial Arts.  He worked for the Marin County Office of Education’s Regional Occupational Program for 33 years, teaching adults entry level skills in Automotive Mechanics.  His students came from all over the world, hoping to find a better life in America.  He taught doctors, lawyers, and other professionals, even cabinet members, and others who managed to migrate here to escape wars and dangerous circumstances. They came from Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, El Salvador, and other hot spots.  Donald taught them the skills they needed and helped them find jobs, housing, get cars, driver’s licenses, and sponsored them for citizenship.  He was an honored guest at many moving citizenship celebrations.  Donald was instrumental in keeping the R.O.P. going in Marin, participating in an industry wide advisory committee to determine what skills were most necessary to teach his students in order for them to succeed.  He developed computer teaching modules that let students learn individually at their own pace, then taught them the hands-on skills in auto shop.  He achieved Mentor Teacher and Master Teacher status for his efforts.

Growing up in State Parks gave Donald a love for the outdoors and travel, and despite his disabilities, he and his family traveled extensively and organized many epic family and friends camping adventures, including almost 30 years of Grass Valley Bluegrass Festival gatherings where he contributed the jaw harp and a vocal train whistle to many jam sessions. He took his family to Mexico, Hawaii, and Disneyland over Christmas holidays. One summer vacation was spent exploring the U.S. including taking in the Montreal Olympics.

He was an expert marksman in the Army, an inventor, and a restorer of vehicles, furniture and his 1895 home, earning Certificates of Great Merit from Heritage Homes of Petaluma.  His restored vehicles were used in movies made in Petaluma like Peggy Sue Got Married and Inventing the Abbotts.  He even had bit parts in some.  Donald was always a confident, “can do” happy spirit, full of warmth, humor, generosity, and a willingness to help anyone in need; a friend to all.  His loving family was his crowning achievement, his great delight.

Donald was preceded in death by his parents, brother Jim and sister-in-law Daphne.  He is survived by his loving wife Alice, his children, daughter Alice (Michael) Christensen, son Don (Cathrina Susoev) Forsyth, and grandchildren Caitlin Alice and Mary Ryan Christensen, and Nikayla and Jasper Forsyth, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A Memorial Service will be held at Parent-Sorensen Mortuary on Friday, September 13, 2024 at 2:00.

Donations can be made to the National Transplant Network, or Petaluma High School Auto Shop.