Asbury Park Press from Asbury Park, New Jersey • Page 204

PLUS FIFTY PAGE 11 Wednesday, Nov. 16,2005 Chamber recognizes Florence Forgotson III i ctnj BY STEPHEN BOVE Staff Writer Each year, members of the Eastern Monmouth Area Chamber of Commerce stand in salute to pay tribute to the men, women, businesses and organizations whose selfless contributions to the community have provided an inspiration that the organization compares to "a sail that catches the wind, making life here better for us all." The chamber held its 14th annual Spinnaker Awards at Branches, West Long Branch, and honored Florence Forgotson her with a Meritorious Service Award. Forgotson, 95, was Monmouth County's first female lawyer. The Red Bank resident was admitted to the bar in 1931 and has been a member of the EMACC since 1933. "Florence has been so selfless when it comes to being here for her community," chamber president Lynda Rose said.

"Her sizable contribution to the education foundation and her immense support of the charter school are just a few examples of that." Forgotson, who opened her first law office when she was 21, said the story behind how and why she chose to base her practice in Red Bank is one that to this day still makes her laugh out loud. Shortly after graduating from law school at New York University, she and her brother were traveling from South Amboy to Monmouth County in search of job prospects. "My plan was to head to Freehold. But as we were driving through Red Bank, we nearly ran out of gas, and had to stop at a Forgotson said. "I struck up a conversation with the owner, an Irishman from Jersey City.

He begged Florence Forgotson, Monmouth County1 first female lawyer, gives a kiss to her assistant, Carol Hinz of Mat-awan, in her Red Bank office, (staff photos: frank gaupo) NT said. "If you're a part of life, you're a part of the world, and you should strive to make that world as great as you can." Rose says the story of Florence Forgotson is one of perseverance and triumph, and should be an inspiration to anyone looking to make a difference. "Florence is proof it can be done. She's a testament to the fact that if your dedicated enough, you can accomplish anything you set your mind to," Rose said. "She should be a role model not only to young women, but anyone trying to buck the odds and get ahead." Forgotson said the secret to her continued success and happiness isn't complicated.

"Age isn't important to me. It's an insignificant number. I just love life. I love being alive," she said. his vest," she said.

Forgotson said being a woman trying make a living in an predominantly male field was something that never really bothered her, as she was too busy to with her own aspirations to worry about "little things like that." "That was never a concern of mine," she said. "And now here I am. I make more money than the boys. And I do a better job." Forgotson said she's honored to be recognized by the EMACC, but doesn't understand why being a charitable person makes her exceptional, as selflessness is or should just be human nature. "I see so many people who live in manner that's completely unrelated to the world around them," she me stay in Red Bank, insisting that the town needed a female lawyer.

"And I'm still here today." Forgotson said her career path was clearly lighted from an early age, and began when she used to sit in on court proceedings with her father, Harry Forgotson, who was an interpreter for the Middlesex County Court System. In college, she said she commuted from her South Amboy home to NYU's campus. And after skipping several grades during her education, Forgotson graduated law school at the age of 19. "I remember studying right there at the train station," she said. "It was quiet, and nobody ever bothered me." Forgotson returned to NYU not long after being ad- mitted to the bar, earning her doctorate in law.

"As the dean handed me the diploma, he looked at me and said, 'This is the highest honor we can give My father was standing next to me, and he almost busted.