John M. Foster

John M. Foster

Amherst, MA - John McGaw Foster died of natural causes on January 4, 2024 at the age of 95 at the Elaine Center in Hadley. Born in 1928, he grew up in Swarthmore, PA. After graduating from high school, he attended Swarthmore College, majoring in chemistry. There he met his true love, Nancy Abbott. They married in 1951.

Following graduation, John attended Harvard University Medical School, earning a PhD in Biochemistry in 1954. After a two-year postdoc at MIT, he was commissioned as a 1st Lieutenant in the US Army in 1956. He and his family were sent to Kawasaki, Japan, where he was in charge of a medical laboratory .

After military service, John joined the faculty of Boston University in 1958, where he taught and did research for eight years. Next, he spent three years with the National Science Foundation in Washington, DC, evaluating innovative undergraduate programs in biology, which fed his love for college-level teaching.

In fall, 1969, he joined the founding faculty of Hampshire College as an associate professor. It was his dream job: Hampshire emphasizes hands-on, experiential learning, often in an interdisciplinary setting. John thrived there, and his programs were popular with students. He retired in 1994 as a full professor after 25 years of dedicated service.

He and Nancy then embarked on a series of outdoor adventures and foreign travels, including backpacking in the Rockies, rafting down the Grand Canyon, and visiting countries as far-flung as China, South Africa, and New Zealand. In 2009, they moved into the Applewood retirement community, which sustained John for 13 years after Nancy passed away in 2010.

John loved the natural world and enjoyed hiking and camping with his family. He also loved classical music and played recorder for many years. He became an enthusiastic member of the Valley Light Opera, contributing in many ways both on stage and off. He also sang with the Berkshire Choral Festival. He was a skilled whitewater canoeist, and he and Nancy often paddled together through rapids. They were both active in the Unitarian Church their entire married life.

Throughout the years, John was known for his wry sense of humor, his storytelling ability, and his many puns. He was a generous mentor to his students and a kind and loving husband and father.

John is survived by his son Jeffrey Foster and daughter-in-law Debra Jaqua of Olympia, WA, his daughter Lorena (Lorie) Healy and son-in-law John Healy of Amherst, and grandsons Matthew Denny and Patrick Foster.

Donations may be made in John's memory to the Valley Light Opera or the Massachusetts Audubon Society. A memorial service will be held at a later date.