Obituary of Theodore Reginald Foster

Santa Cruz native Theodore “Ted” Foster started his life when blacksmith shops still opened for business on Pacific Avenue.  After barely surviving the Spanish Flu Epidemic of 1919, Ted’s innumerable adventures began and became the source of stories he reveled in sharing, embellishing, and repeating.  While attending Santa Cruz High School, Ted drove to Oakland where he performed on his fiddle to live radio audiences as a member of the country swing band known as the Coast Range Cowboys.  During the Great Depression, Ted reeled in fish from the waters of the Monterey Bay, San Lorenzo River and Granite Creek, or bagged a rabbit with one shot to help feed his parents and siblings.  What pride he wore in 1936 upon his acceptance to UC Berkeley, becoming the first Foster to attend college.

 

     World War II interrupted his pre-med career path and sent him into the Navy.  After a North African assignment serving alongside British troops, Ted was transferred to Pearl Harbor arriving on December 8, 1941, just one day after the infamous attack.  Lieutenant JG Ted Foster graduated first in his submarine school class, and joined the sailors of the USS Saury and its very special crewmember Warhead, a Jack Russell Terrier.  The fact Ted joined the Silent Service was an irony not lost on anyone who knew him.  He used his superb math skills aboard the Saury to operate the Torpedo Data Computer and calculate the firing angles of the torpedoes in battle.  Ted’s eagle eyes once spotted a Japanese submarine’s periscope many miles away before the lookout could spot it with binoculars.

    

     Ted survived harrowing experiences.  On one occasion a Japanese destroyer partially sheared off the Saury’s conning tower.  Another time the Saury endured 12-hours of relentless depth charging by a Japanese warship.  As the Saury pitched and rolled in total darkness, oxygen was running out for the sailors.  After safely surfacing, Ted vowed to himself to never complain again.  Years later on a backpacking trip atop King’s Canyon with a terrified Jim and Don, thunder roared, wet snow slashed, and winds howled.  Huddled under a plastic tarp, Ted smiled.  When asked why he was smiling, he simply commented, “What better place to be than camping with my sons.”

 

     Ted devoted much of his life to serving the Santa Cruz community.  His titles included Cabrillo College Trustee and President, Dr. Foster (practiced optometry for 37 years), and City Council member (Mayor 1959-60).  During his tenure the following projects were started and completed: Loch Lomond Reservoir, Santa Cruz Yacht Harbor, DeLaveaga Golf Course and Park, UCSC, Cabrillo College, and Harvey West Park.  One of his proudest achievements was connecting the sewer to the Santa Cruz Wharf, making the Main Beach better for swimming.

      Ted’s service to others reached beyond Santa Cruz borders.  He took his optometric skills on many Flying Doctor missions to impoverished areas of Mexico.  Through Rotary International, Ted travelled to remote villages in Kenya and Tanzania and set up clinics delivering 15,000 pairs of glasses.  After fitting a 6’4” Masai woman with glasses, she lifted Ted and jumped up and down shouting with joy, ”I can see trees and birds flying in the sky!”  He survived yet another near death experience.

     In 1950, Ted married his Cal sweetheart Edith Connolly, the only woman in his optometry class.  Their union produced four energetic sons, purposely given monosyllabic first names of Jim, Don, Mike, and Tom.  Fun loving Ted and Edie introduced their boys to a playful world.  Summer vacations were spent backpacking the Sierras and water skiing at King’s Beach, Lake Tahoe.  Winter vacations were spent skiing the slopes of Homewood, and rolling a few dice at the craps table.  Ted reserved a house for the winter that accommodated a multitude of guests, because with Ted it was always the more the merrier.  Staying home was not boring either.  Often Ted piled his sons and Meadow Road kids into his war surplus jeep (complete with bullet holes) to go on a scary and wild ride.  Luckily for Edie she was not invited along.

     A highly competitive individual, Ted liked to beat up on his bridge opponents and golf buddies.  Weekends often included a friendly dinner with the Leys, Rices, and Warnes followed by an intense bridge game where no one dared make a mistake for fear of the brutal trash talking that could erupt.  Late afternoons and weekends found Ted loading up his clubs and heading up to Pasatiempo Golf Course to cut a few strokes off his handicap.  Ted never opted for an electric golf cart (a death machine in his mind) but instead toted his bag on his shoulder from hole to hole for the exercise.  Sadly at age 93, Ted had to give up golf because he hit the ball farther than he could see.

    Dramatic changes occurred during Ted’s 100 years on earth. Ted outlived Edie, Mike, and innumerable close friends.  He is survived by sister Helen Phillips; three sons; Jim (Randi), Don (April), and Tom; five grandchildren Kristin, Katie, Jake, Craig, and Brett; and five great-grandchildren Grace, Olivia, Poppy, Bo, and Aksel.         Ted was a great patriot and an integral part of what made his generation, America’s greatest generation.

     A gathering of friends and family will be held February 9^th   at 1PM at the Seymour Marine Discovery Center, 100 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz to celebrate Ted’s 100 years roaming the earth.

     A very special thank you and hugs galore go to longtime caregiver Victor Soto who Ted treasured like a son.  The family also wishes to commend the dedicated caregivers from Care from the Heart who daily enriched his last year.  Ted’s bond with Gloria Jimenez, who he called “His Sunshine”, gave him great joy.  She generously and affectionately planted kisses on him to the end and was truly a gift.  At their goodbye time, Ted never failed to say, “I love you.”

     As per Ted’s wish he signs off “Gone Golfin”.

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