J. Kenneth Forester, 94, founder of Teterboro, N.J.-based Meridian, died June 1. Known as “Ken Sr.” to distinguish him from his son, who later joined the family business, Forester had a more-than-50-year career as a pilot, maintenance technician and executive in aviation services.

Forester’s aviation career began in December 1941, following the attack on Pearl Harbor. He joined the U.S. Army Air Corps and earned a private pilot’s license a year later. He became an engineering test pilot in 1943 and flew fighters, bombers and transports over the next three years.

After the war, he founded Mallard Air Service, serving as a charter, maintenance base and distributor for the Republic Seabee and North American Navion. Forester later managed a wire machinery plant in Paterson, N.J. and sold Navions at Teterboro Airport before founding Meridian’s predecessor company, initially known as General Aviation Company, in 1958 on the west side of Teterboro Airport.

His son Ken took over the management of the company in 1974, and in 1986 it became a Million Air franchise. The company was rebranded as Meridian in 2006, when it returned to an independently owned and operated entity.

Forester was inducted into the New Jersey Aviation Hall of Fame in 2008 and also was awarded with the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic award in 2002.