Douglas Foster, 94

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. —  Douglas Foster was born on August 3,1930 in Utica, New York to Harry and Florence Foster. At the age of 6, he contracted polio. The doctors did not think that he would walk again, but he fooled them. He graduated from High School as the Most Valuable Athlete and Valedictorian.

In September 1948, he entered Williams College on a seven-year scholarship. At Williams he majored in History, played football and lacrosse and served as a junior advisor to Freshman. He was on the Dean’s List and a member of Phi Gamma Delta.

Following Williams, he entered Cornell University where he received his MA in History in 1953. He then enlisted in the Army and was selected for the counterintelligence Corps. After training in its school at Fort Holabird, Maryland and in intensive Japanese language school, he was sent to Japan in late 1954. He had numerous interesting experiences there.

After returning from Japan, he taught and coached at the Hill School, a boy’s preparatory school in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. In 1958 he married Ann Priesing of Scarsdale, New York and a graduate of Pembroke College, part of Brown University. He and Ann lived at the Hill School until 1960, when much to Ann’s surprise, he announced that they were going to law school.

In June of 1960, their first child, Dave, was born. Subsequently their other three children, Susan, Emily and Jim were born. Doug graduated from law school in 1963 and went to work for a major Wallstreet firm, Chadbourne & Parke.

Wishing to be a trial lawyer, he took a position as an assistant Commissioner at the New York City Department of Investigation. He served in that capacity for two years and then returned to private practice with the firm Lovejoy, Watson & Ashton where he subsequently became a litigating partner. To mention a few of the cases he handled, he represented the National Iranian Oil Company, The American Basketball Players Association and the Swiss Government.

In 1969, Doug and Ann, along with their four children, moved to Bronxville, New York, where they lived for 29 years. Their children went through the Bronxville school system and then on to college. Doug served as president of the Bronxville PTA.

In 1985 Doug became president of the Atlantic Legal Foundation which is devoted to litigating constitutional cases. Doug retired in1998 and he and Ann moved to Williamstown, Massachusetts. He served as president of the Williamstown Community Chest for two years, audited courses at Williams College and was active on several Williams’ athletic booster groups. He also served as a fundraising chair for his graduating class at Williams College.

Doug was predeceased by his wife of 61 years, Ann, and his oldest child, David. He leaves behind his three other children, Susan Foster Culver of Chicago, IL, Emily Verbeck of Doylestown, PA and James Foster of Atlanta, GA, along with 11 grandchildren.

A private graveside service was held for Doug at East Deering Cemetery in NH. Memorial donations may be made to the Williamstown Community Chest in care of FLYNN & DAGNOLI-MONTAGNA HOME FOR FUNERALS, CENTRAL CHAPEL, 74 Marshall St. North Adams, MA 01247. To add to the Book of Memories, please visit www.flynndagnolifuneralhomes.com.