Richard E. Foster

FOSTER

CPT. RICHARD E. FOSTER, USN (Ret.)

Died Thursday, Decembcr 28, 2006 of AnnapolIs, MD, at the age of 88. He was born November 22, 1918 in Oakland, CA and graduatcd from Piedmont High School before receiving an appointment to the US Naval Acadamy in 1937. He graduated in February 1941, with the first accelerated class prior to Worl War II. While at ihe Naval Academy, he captained the l940 Navy football team.

His first duty assignment was in the USS Pennsylvania and he was abroad ship Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. He remained with the ship through the Attu Operations and returned to Annapolis to attend the Postgraduate Scholl in Design Engineering in 1943. Captin Foster had duty in the Pacific from Iwo Jima campaign through the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay aboard the USS Indiana. Following the end of the war, he served as First Engineering Officer in the USS Wright.

Other duty stations included the Naval Mission to Brazil, Mare Island Naval Shipyard and the David Taylor Model Basin, Bureau ol Ships, Pacific Amphibious Force Staff and Production Officer, Norfolk Naval Shipyard. In 1965, following his attendance at the Advanced Management Program at Harvard University Captain Foster was severely injured in a commercial airline mid-air collision, resulting in an extended period of recovery and rehabilitation in Bethesda Naval Hospital. Retired from the Navy in 1968, he was a Project Engineer with Wheeler industries from that date until 1980.

A resident of Bethesda moving to Annapolis in 1979, Captain Foster enjoyed golf, scuba-diving, sailing, travel and supporting Navy football. He was a life member and former Council Member of the US Naval Academy Alumni Association, a member of the American Society of Naval Engineers, a Trustee-Emeritus of the US Naval Academy Foundation and a Paul Harris Fellow of the Annapolis Rotary Club.

Captain Foster was predeceased by his wife of 59 years. Sarajane, and son, Randolph. He is survived by his daughters, Sara Ellen Williamson of Raleigh, NC, and Mary Laura Beisswenger of Athens, GA; grandson, Capt. James R. Williamson, USMC, currently serving in Iraq and granddaughter, Sara Ellen Beisswenger of Ahtens, GA, great-grandson, James Foster Williamson; great-granddaughter Caroline Jane Williamson of Newport, NC. He is also survived by his two sisters, Elizabeth Hilliard of Salt Spring Island, BC and Nancy Anrstiong of Sonoma,CA.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. , Thursday, January 25, 2007 at St. Andrews Chapel on the grounds of the US Naval Academy with reception to follow at Ginger Cove, 4000 River Crescent Dr., Annapolis. Memorial donations in his name may be made to the US Naval Academy Foundation-Athletic Excellence, 291 Wood Rd., Annapolis.