James "Jim" Robert Forester

Born in Wheeling, West Virginia to Charles and Annamae Forester, Jim moved with his family to Fairless Hills at the age of four. He was a 1968 graduate of Pennsbury High School and later attended Bucks County Community College. Jim had been a proud resident of Yardley for more than 30 years.

For over three decades, Jim was a dedicated and trusted part of Russo Music, the family business where he worked since 1994. Over his 31 years with the company, he took on many roles and responsibilities, becoming someone the family and staff relied on every day. He served as the Education Representative to the Central Bucks School District and managed Human Resources; among many other tasks he willingly stepped into whenever needed. Prior to joining Russo Music, Jim worked as a Systems Analyst for NCR in Cranbury, NJ, where he and Michelle first met.

Jim was a man of quiet strength and unwavering kindness, known for his selflessness, patience, sense of humor, and gentle spirit. He was deeply devoted to his family and found his greatest joy in time spent with his children, grandchildren, and extended family. Holidays and birthday celebrations with his close knit family of more than thirty were especially meaningful to him, and he looked forward to those gatherings every year. In earlier decades, many summer weekends were spent at his in laws’ pool—affectionately known as “Russo’s Resort”—where friends and family came together to share laughter and homemade Italian meals. In more recent years, Jim cherished the Sunday dinners lovingly prepared by his wife, Michelle, and shared with their children and grandchildren.

Jim was an avid Philadelphia sports fan, a history buff, and a lover of movies and television. He took pride in caring for his home, often spending summer days in the yard, garden, or shed working on projects.

He was also an avid bowler, sharing many joyful years on the lanes with his brothers. One of his proudest bowling achievements came in the early 1980s, when he, Dan, and Bruce were featured in the American Bowling Congress National Magazine after all three rolled 700 series—Jim with a 716—to lead their team in the Fairless Hills Men’s League to an impressive 2812 total. In addition to bowling, Jim was an enthusiastic skier in his younger years, embracing winter with the same sense of fun and adventure he brought to everything he loved.

During the 1980s, Jim was also a talented softball player, competing on several local teams and winning multiple league championships in both Mercer County with his team the Revere Grill and in Bucks County with his team the Rooters. His years on the softball field were filled with camaraderie, competition, and friendships he treasured.

He was also a dedicated member of AA, where he found community, spiritual grounding, and the opportunity to support others with compassion and humility.

Jim is now reunited with his father Charles R. Forester Jr., his mother Annamae (Moser) Forester, and his brother Ronald A. Forester.

Jim is survived by his beloved wife of 41 years, Michelle (Russo) Forester; his children: Stephen James Forester and his wife Chloe (Curtis) Forester, and Briana Ashley Forester; his cherished grandchildren: Harper Grey Forester and Greyson James Forester; his brothers, Daniel C. (Luanne) Forester of Fairless Hills and Bruce E. (Christine) Forester of Langhorne; his sister in law, Patricia Forester of Fairless Hills; eight nieces and nephews; eleven great nieces and great nephews; and several other beloved family members and friends.

He will be remembered as a beloved husband, devoted father, adoring grandfather, and a man whose generosity, honesty, humor, and kind heart touched everyone fortunate enough to know him.

A viewing will be held at James J. Dougherty Funeral Home, Inc., 2200 Trenton Rd, Levittown, Pennsylvania 19056, on March 2, 2026, from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm, followed by his funeral service at 12:30 pm. After the service he will be laid to rest at Holy Trinity Cemetery, 201 North Pennsylvania Avenue, Morrisville, Pennsylvania 19067.

Donations in Jim’s name may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or aa.org.