FOSTER, THOMAS G., JR.

Thomas G. Foster, 87, of Kaneohe, died October 19, 2009. Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, he is survived by his wife of 63 years, Ruth; daughters Kristine of Hawaii and Denise of Minnesota; sons Thomas (Karen) of Hawaii and Michael (Shelley) of California; three grandchildren. In his early years he was an exceptional athlete and was named the 1939 New England athlete of the year. The Second World War cut his athletic career short. During the war he was a proud member of the elite 1st Marine Raider [Battalion] (Edson’s Raiders). During the unit’s existence and thereafter he made first wave assault landings on Tulagi, Guadalcanal, Saipan, Tinian and Iwo Jima. After the war he joined the Army as an officer and was on the Yalu River in Korea when he personally witnessed the Chinese enter the conflict. For his final military assignment, he taught ROTC at the University of Notre Dame before retiring in 1968 to Hawaii. A second career found him being both a teacher and a dean of students at St. Louis High School for 20 years where he influenced the lives of many men. Those wishing may make a donation to St. Louis High School in his name.

A mass will be said at 9:00 a.m., November 3, 2009 at the Newman Center, University of Hawaii followed by services at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) at 11:30 a.m. Aloha attire.