Eugene William Foster Jr.

Born May 24, 1936, to Eugene William Foster, Sr. and Amelia Jund Foster, Eugene quickly became Gene to his family and friends. Although, if you ever really knew the family, you'd know his Dad called him Pete - which was short for what he actually called Gene as an infant - Peanut.

Growing up in Richmond Hill Queens Gene, an Eagle Scout and star baseball player, attended Holy Trinity High School. Gene tried out for and played one season for a professional baseball "B" team.

Soon after high school Gene met Maryann Ainsworth at a school dance and married her. They had three wonderful children, John Francis, Robyn Ann and Jeanette Marie. In 1960 Gene secured a job with TWA in the cargo department. Over the course of the next 35 years, he climbed the ladder within the cargo department to a senior management level. During that time, he also was an investment partner in a pet store in Forest Hills, Queens. This fed Gene's life-long passion for aquariums. After retiring from TWA in 1995, Gene held several odd jobs that related to his hobbies and passions, floral arrangement and delivery, cargo company consultant, and horse care at a Jericho, NY stable. In 1973 Gene married his long time TWA friend and colleague, Caroline Grimaldi. Gene was happy to join Carol in raising her two wonderful children Ralph and Adrianne Grimaldi over the next 40 years of marriage.

Gene continued in multiple team sports over several years with the TWA semi-pro softball team and league bowling. He was also an avid deep sea fisherman. Early in his adult life Gene served as a volunteer EMT. Throughout his life Gene was passionate about civic duty, living the unsung rule that "public service is the price we pay for the space we occupy". Gene served his community as a neighborhood watchman, a captain in the 105th Auxiliary police and in the Rocky Hill Civic Association.

Gene's 5 children are thankful for all the wonderful friends and family that have made his life rich and our transition in loss meaningful. Thank you for your kindnesses.

Gene is preceded in death by his parents, his wife Caroline, and his grandson Nick. Gene is survived by his son John his wife Nora, their sons, Steven and Christopher and their 9 grandchildren, his daughter Robyn her husband John and their children, Joshua and Sarah, his daughter Jeanette her husband Bob and their children Joy, Julie and Daniel and their 6 grandchildren, as well as Ralph Grimaldi and Adrianne Grimaldi and her husband Glenn Wilhelm.

Visiting: Sunday 2-4 & 7-9 pm

Service: Monday 11 am

Interment : Monday following prayers at Pinelawn Memorial cemetery