Monroe County Commissioner Dies From COVID-19 Complications

MONROE COUNTY, FL — Monroe County Commissioner Mike Forster died from COVID-19 complications early Monday, the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners shared on its Facebook page.

The 61-year-old, who also previously served as mayor of the Village of Islamorada and is a well-known restaurateur in the Florida Keys, was vaccinated and died of a breakthrough infection, Local 10 reported.

“It is with an extremely heavy heart that we have lost our beloved colleague. Mike passionately gave his all to the Florida Keys. He fed everyone with food, with love, with encouragement, with positive words and with hugs. He considered us all one Keys family,” Monroe County Mayor Michelle Coldiron said in a statement.

She added, “Mike never said, ‘We can’t do it,’ but always, ‘Let’s figure out how we can.’ He passionately fought for all to have a quality of life to sustain living in the Keys with housing, fair wages, and protection of the environment. He showed his love for the Keys environment and people with all of his heart and soul. Rest in Peace, my friend.”

According to his BOCC biography, Forster moved to Monroe County in 1990 and later opened Mangrove Mike’s Café and Catering in 1998. He went on to establish the Rain Barrel Retail Center and Mangrove Mike’s Café at Bud & Mary’s Marina.

The Key Largo resident was passionate about his three dogs and enjoyed spending time fishing, boating and outdoors, especially in the Everglades, his bio said.

Forster served five terms in office totaling 12 years for the Village of Islamorada. After terming out in 2020, he was elected to the Monroe County BOCC in November. He also previously served on the Islamorada Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors.