Robert S. FOSHKO

1930 - 2015

FOSHKO, Robert S.
On the evening of May 3rd 2015, Robert S. Foshko of Austin, Texas - passed away at the age of 85.

A long-time member in good standing of the Director's Guild of America and a two-time Emmy winner for his work in television, many in Austin know Bob from his career as a distinguished faculty member for screenwriting and television at the University of Texas at Austin, College of Communication, Department of Radio-TV and Film and the Michener Center for Writers, where he shaped the education and careers of many students for three decades; garnering many other awards and accolades. However, prior to that, Bob had a rich career in television - particularly in the so-called "Golden Age", working with Lew Wasserman, Jackie Gleason, Peggy Lee, Guy Lombardo, Rod Serling, Alfred Hitchcock and many other luminaries of the "Madmen" era. He also wrote stories for Argosy when the pulp was in its early years and comic strips like Flash Gordon, among others. After receiving his Bachelor's Degree at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, and then serving in Korea as a 1st Lieutenant in the Air Force and top turret gunner on a B-25 Mitchell, Bob returned to Graduate School - only to discover that the chapter that they were studying for their television course was one that he had co-authored sometime before as an undergraduate. In short, "he wrote the book." That summed up the man. A self-described knock-around guy from Brooklyn, and later Los Angeles - many of his students-now professionals, his friends and his family would all agree: In so many ways, "he wrote the book".

Bob was preceded by his father, Harry Foshko, his mother, Irene Repatsky Foshko, his brother, Alan Foshko, all of New York, and his first wife, Marian Foshko of Austin. He is survived by his loving wife Sally Griffin Foshko and his son, Adam Foshko along with his wife Blinzia Foshko, grandson Solomon Foshko and his wife Amy Foshko, his granddaughter, Khara Cloutier and her husband Ray Cobo, as well as sister-in-law, Judy Brush and her husband Jim Brush, nephew, James Brush and his wife Rachel Brush, niece, Catherine Wusterhausen and her husband Michael Wusterhausen, nephew, Jonathan Brush and his wife Nancy Zey. He was also blessed by his great-granddaughters, Evelyn Rose and Zoe Collette Foshko, and his grand nephews and nieces David Wusterhausen, Elizabeth Wusterhausen, Richard Brush, Mary Brush and Silas Brush.

Bob was also a long time member of the Congregation Beth Israel, as well as the UT Austin Retired Faculty Association. Those wishing to honor his memory, may donate to the Robert Foshko Scholarship Fund, which is being established at the University of Texas, College of Communication, Department of Radio-TV and Film.