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Forrest Church, son of the late Sen. Frank Church, dies of cancer at age 61

The minister, author and son of the late Sen. Frank Church had battled his illness for three years.

BY BETHANN STEWART - bstewart@idahostatesman.com

Copyright: © 2009 Idaho Statesman

Published: 09/25/09


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The Rev. Forrest Church, the oldest son of one of Idaho's most storied political families, died on Thursday, one day after his birthday.

"He'd been in the hospital, and they'd done all they could do," said longtime family friend Dan Williams. "He was just about able to get home."

The family has no plans for services yet, Williams said.

"They had a warning recently that the treatments were no longer working," Williams said. "The family had time to brace themselves."

Church lived in New York City, where he served as a minister at the Unitarian Church of All Souls for nearly three decades. He also was the author or editor of 25 books, according to the church's Web site.

Church had been diagnosed with esophageal cancer in October 2006. His cancer went into remission after his esophagus was removed the next month, and he was given six months to live.

After the initial diagnosis, Church completed two books; saw his daughter, Nina, marry; and managed to reach his 60th birthday, which neither his father nor grandfather had done, Williams said.

Church's father, the late U.S. Sen. Frank Church, was diagnosed with testicular cancer in his 20s and given just a few months to live. But after radiation treatments, he survived. A Democrat, he was elected to the Senate at 32, represented Idaho from 1957 to 1981, and ran for president in 1976.

Forrest Church's tumors were found again in February 2008. Once again, he was given half a year to live.

"The great thing was how long he was able to live," Williams said.

He is survived by his mother, Bethine Church, of Boise; his brother, Chase; his wife, Carolyn Buck Luce; his sons, Frank, Jacob and Nathan; and his daughter, Nina.

Contributions in memory of Forrest Church may be sent to the Frank Church Institute, Boise State University, 1910 University Drive, Boise, ID 83725.

Bethann Stewart: 377-6393

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