Steve Foster

STEVE FOSTER
March 18, 1943 ˜ October 28, 2023

In the midst of a brilliant lunar event, Steve Foster passed away peacefully with his family around him the morning of Oct. 28, 2023, following a brief battle with cancer. Steve was born in New York City and raised in Ridgewood, NJ. Throughout his life, he remained proud to be a New Jersey boy, even after moving westward to graduate from the University of Colorado and serve four years in the ROTC. California was his destination, where he found work as a human resources specialist for Santa Clara County in the early 1970s, moving quickly into management roles.

Pursuing new career opportunities, he and his family moved to the Northwest in the mid-80s, where he served first with the City of Beaverton, then as director of human resources at Clark County for 10 years. He loved the technical aspects of human resources and even enjoyed the hours spent negotiating with public sector unions. He retired in 2005 after spending a year with City of Los Altos in California and a year with Portland Community College in Portland.

A 30-year career did not keep him from his passions for music and golf. Steve requested that this be written about him: “Music: Steve wasn’t that good at it, but he sure did love it, especially music with a message.” He loved jamming with anyone who would jam with him and his 50-year-old guitar. And truly, he was amazingly gifted with his creative musical talents. When not listening to or playing music, he would otherwise be playing golf at any of the lovely courses in the Northwest, followed by a Scoresby scotch in the course’s bar.

Steve was dad to two children, Tracy Foster Harward and Christopher Foster in Salt Lake City, UT; and two stepdaughters, Amy Elisabeth Tenney in Lake Oswego, OR, and Sara Tenney Espinosa in Pine Bush, NY. He was a special Grampy to Chase and Connor Harward, Avery and Adia Foster in Salt Lake City, and Carsen Holtmann in Lake Oswego, and Kas Holtmann in La Center, WA. He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Ann Foster, in Salmon Creek.

Steve had requested no funeral services, and rather that his family would host a great party with a lot of music as a celebration of his life, which will take place in the spring of 2024. A special thanks is sent out to the angels of PeaceHealth Hospice who provided excellent guidance and support through the last week of his life.

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