From German soldier to American doctor: La Jolla centenarian has had a ‘life of resilience’

Wolf Forster visited a doctor for a checkup recently. As Forster approached the office without a cane or walker, the doctor suggested the 99-year-old La Jolla resident use one just in case he might need it.

Forster’s response: “Nuh-uh.”

As he nears his 100th birthday on Wednesday, Oct. 22, Forster can look back on a story of perseverance. It’s a quality that has been present throughout his life — from surviving World War II as a German soldier to becoming an American doctor, colonel, husband and father.

“He’s lived a life of resilience,” said Sarah Forster, his wife of 18 years. “In his youth, he overcame a lot. One can only admire all these obstacles that he’s overcome to live a healthy life.”

Wolfram Forster was born in Berlin in 1925, making him a teenager during the thick of World War II. He was drafted into the German army in 1944, six months before the war in Europe ended.

He avoided the greatest danger on the front lines because he was sick and “out of commission,” he said. Rather than being sent east, which likely would mean he wouldn’t be coming home, he was sent west and survived. But over the next 22 months, he was a prisoner of war in American, French and Soviet custody.

Forster returned home in March 1947 and studied medicine at Humboldt University of Berlin and Free University of Berlin. He graduated from the latter with a doctor of medicine degree in 1954.

In his formative years, he had two goals for his life: becoming a doctor and moving to America.

“America had everything,” he said.

He was first drawn to the United States as a youngster by watching movies starring Shirley Temple.

His American dream grew closer when his early career took him to an internship in Passaic, N.J., and then to service as a medical officer at the U.S. Air Force base at Bitburg, Germany.

During that time, he met his first wife, Gertie (who died in 1993), and set out a plan to complete his medical residency in the United States.

Forster has been a La Jolla resident since 1988. But before he moved to the West Coast, he spent his professional life as a radiologist in Washington, D.C. He also dedicated 10 years of service to the U.S. Army Reserve, retiring with the rank of colonel. He taught radiology at Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and junior military medical officers at Walter Reed Medical Center, both in the Washington area.

He has two daughters, Sharon Blouin and Susan Kerns.

Much of his story is chronicled in the 2018 book “Farewell, Berlin,” his account of how he survived Hitler’s Germany and later embraced life in America.

“My entire life is right in this book,” Forster said.

His story was further told by “Memoirs of WWII,” a YouTube series highlighting the stories of people affected by the war. The video, offering Forster’s perspective as a German soldier, has garnered nearly 3 million views.

Since the release of his book and “Memoirs of WWII,” Forster has received a heap of handwritten letters sent to his home, plus photographs and copies of his book for him to sign. A few people even sent clothes and a baseball for him to autograph and return.

Forster now spends his days closely following world politics and watching soccer. He also drinks six cups of coffee a day with an at-home espresso machine.

He and Sarah recently walked all of San Diego’s Balboa Park — no canes or walkers necessary — and attended a Beatles tribute show.

Two upcoming celebrations will commemorate Forster’s 100th birthday. The first is set for Sunday, Oct. 12, at La Jolla Masonic Lodge No. 518. Forster is a decorated member and past master of La Jolla’s Freemasons chapter. He was recognized for his dedication to the organization with a Hiram Award, one of the highest honors in Freemasonry, in 2023.

The other event, presented by the La Jolla Newcomers Club, which Sarah is involved with, will celebrate Forster’s 100th with champagne and cake on Saturday, Oct. 25.