Shirley Forstman

Shirley Forstman, beloved mother, friend, volunteer, justice advocate, and longtime member of Vine Street Christian Church, passed away on June 4, 2018.
Shirley grew up in Douglas, Kansas and graduated from Phillips University, a chemistry major. Married for 63 years to Jack Forstman, Dean Emeritus of Vanderbilt Divinity School, Shirley offered ready hospitality and support to students, faculty, and staff and worked for a time in Vanderbilt's Office of Religious Life.
In 1985, she became a founding board member of Nashville's Council on Aging, an agency whose diverse leadership and inclusive vision inspired her decades-long service. Shirley and Jack traveled extensively for meetings related to the academy, church, and inter-religious dialogue. Twice they lived for a year in Germany, where Shirley learned the language, cared for family, and made lifelong friends.
In college and early adulthood, Shirley was an accomplished amateur pianist and teacher. She delighted in classical music and was an avid reader throughout her life.
Survived by children, David, Valerie, and Paul; daughter-in-law Conni; partners Angela Carnahan and Scott Thornton; grandchildren, Nathalie, Isabel, and Jackson; and 8 great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 10, 2018 at Vine Street Christian Church, 4101 Harding Rd.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Vine Street Christian Church or to the Jack and Shirley Forstman Scholarship Fund at Vanderbilt Divinity School.