Ted M. Foster

Ted Morgan Foster, 83, of Annapolis, MD, passed away peacefully on September 4, 2025, surrounded by loving family. Born in Lynchburg, Virginia, September 24, 1941, to Cora Green (Martin) and James Morgan Foster, he grew up in a family and community of faith. He always strove to make a difference in any area in which he was involved, to be an honest, loyal, courteous gentleman and to help others accept and work through difficult challenges.

From early childhood Ted had a strong interest in science and, as a teenager, a fascination with technology, first spurred by a visit to an uncle who introduced him to the wonder of communicating with ham radio by Morse code, then voice. Before he owned a radio, Ted experimented by touching a wire to a crystal that converted AC radio waves into DC audio signals and wiring it to his metal bed frame to hear broadcast sounds through headphones. Similarly interested in phonograph records of mostly classical music, which he carefully collected with money earned delivering newspapers, he wanted to learn more about transmission of sound. Having decided to study electrical engineering, he graduated from Lynchburg’s E.C. Glass High School in 1959 and pursued his dream of attending the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, graduating with a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering in 1963. He remained active in supporting the University in several capacities throughout his life.

Having received a Westinghouse Electric Corp. fellowship to study solid state physics at Johns Hopkins University, he completed his Ph.D. degree in 1967. At Westinghouse Electronic Systems in Baltimore, he served in various management levels in the development of applied research in electronics used in radar systems for air traffic control and defense. Ted considered himself fortunate to be working with and learning from his Westinghouse associates during those years. In 1990 he became General Manager of the Electronics, Information and Sciences Division of the Westinghouse Science and Technology Center in Pittsburgh, PA. Departments he led there were engaged in research and development of advanced technologies for electronic systems. Having returned to Baltimore after Northrop Grumman acquired the division, he retired from Northrop Grumman in 1999. In 2000 he was appointed Visiting Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering (CSEE) at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). With faculty colleagues, some of whom were engineering practitioners, he developed Systems Engineering and Engineering Management programs for graduate students. Having enjoyed the opportunity to share his industrial experience personally with students and faculty, he retired from UMBC in 2015 as Professor of the Practice, CSEE, Assistant Dean, College of Engineering and Information Technology. He was a Senior Member of IEEE, a member of Tau Beta Pi and of Sigma Xi.

In retirement Ted loved spending time with family, especially with his six grandchildren, of whom he was extremely proud; taking and editing photographs for friends, family and organizations to which he belonged; attending symphony, opera and choral concerts; and, over the last four years, driving around his community of Epping Forest in his golf cart, stopping to chat with neighbors and friends. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Annapolis, serving in many capacities including chair of the Board of Trustees. He very much enjoyed singing in the Chancel Choir and participating in decisions involving the music program.

On July 24, 1965, Ted was united in marriage with Anne Poe Goulding whom he had met as an undergraduate student at a UVA “mixer” dance when she was attending nearby Randolph-Macon Woman’s College (now Randolph College). In 1967 they were among the first residents of the planned community of Columbia, MD, where they lived for 23 years. In later years Ted and Anne enjoyed get-away time at a second home in New Bern, NC.

Ted is survived by his wife Anne, son Daniel Foster (Jean), Mark Emerson Foster (Katya), daughter Elizabeth Poe Foster (Paul Furusho); grandchildren Charlotte, Leah and Rae Foster, Benjamin Furusho, and Emma and James Foster; and beloved extended family.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, October 18, 2025, at 11:00 AM, First Presbyterian Church of Annapolis, 171 Duke of Gloucester St, Annapolis, MD 21401.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations to First Presbyterian Church of Annapolis https://secure.myvanco.com/L-YRHD/campaign/C-ZF1P or a Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) station of your choice, www.pbs.org .