Grayson David Foster

It is with our deepest sadness, that we announce the death of Grayson David Foster, 23, to an accidental overdose in Deerfield Beach, Florida on May 13th. Born and raised in Newington, Grayson is survived by his mother, Elizabeth (Betsy) Foster and his father, David Foster and wife Michelle of Stuart, Florida; his brother, Alex Foster; and sister, Rachel (Foster) Lentini and husband Kyle Lentini; and his stepsisters: Stephanie Wheeler and Alyssa Weinhold; grandparents: John R. Griffin and his beloved Nana, Frances Griffin (predeceased) of Newington as well as Marilee Foster and Randy Foster (predeceased) of Ledyard; aunt, Nancylee Griffin; and cousins (who were like siblings), Griffin and his fiancé; Danielle, and Mia and Paris Colopy. As written by Griffin: "When someone dies I think it's natural to try and create an analogy that captures the person's life and passing. This is how the human brain works. We take larger-than-life events and ideas and try to fit them into more digestible boxes. In the days following Grayson's death I heard his life, and sudden passing, compared to many things; a firework, a BMX bike, a shooting star. I myself am guilty of making these comparisons. While I can see how each one of these metaphors works in their own way, something always seems missing. Yes, Grayson was very much like a firework. From the moment he stepped foot in the world he had an upward trajectory. He did, indeed, ride through life as though he was on top of his BMX bike. I'm envious of how passionately and fearlessly he dove headfirst into everything. Not afraid to fall, Grayson never let a skinned knee or knocking teeth out stop him from doing what he loved. In many ways he also reminds me of the shooting stars we used to watch at the Cape. I only wish I had known how fleeting Grayson's light would be. However, what is lost in these accurate analogies is the person who he truly was. BMX bikes don't capture the intense love and fierce loyalty Grayson had for his friends and family. A love so strong it kept him smiling and in the brightest of moods during any and all family events even while he tried to navigate his addiction. The memories I have of him at these events, like his sister's wedding, smiling that beautiful smile while swinging his sister on the dance floor. Fireworks capture a fraction of Gray, but they don't have an affinity and awe for animals and the natural world. Images of Grayson collecting periwinkles at the Cape and wrestling his dog Cody for hours are permanently burned into my mind in a way no Fourth of July celebration ever could be. I'm resisting the urge to compare Grayson to things like bikes, stars, or fireworks because he was so much more. Grayson looked like a movie star and could win over anyone with his charm. It's impossible to wrap your mind around the entirety of him as a person, or the vastness of the hole he leaves behind in our lives, but that's ok. I don't want to remember him in a neat, processed, allegory. I want to remember the messy, exuberant, hilarious, passionate kid that I watched grow up." Calling hours will be Sunday, May 23rd from 1-5pm at Duksa Family Funeral Homes at Newington Memorial, 20 Bonair Ave, Newington. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to High Watch Recovery Center, 62 Carter Road, Kent, CT 06757. To share a memory, please visit us at www.duksa.net.