Robert Foster

Robert "Bob" Foster, known to family members as "Buddy," was born in Brooklyn, the eldest of four children. Bob graduated from the New York School of Printing in 1950 and worked at CBS before enlisting in the Navy. He served as Quartermaster 3rd class on the icebreaker USS Atka (AGB-3) and the destroyer escort USS Kirkpatrick (DER-318).

Upon discharge, Bob married his childhood sweetheart Katherine "Kay" Jeffers, with whom he raised two children, Robert and Kathleen. Kay made a home for the family while Bob put in long hours in Manhattan at Hot Press, Inc., eventually becoming vice-president. In 1967, the family moved from Sunset Park, Brooklyn to Great Kills, Staten Island. Bob encouraged his young children to be independent and self-motivated: "Be a leader, not a follower." He valued honesty, loyalty, effort and commitment. Bob mellowed with age and often expressed his love for his family with genuine feeling.

Kay predeceased Bob, who married again a few years later to Catherine "Cathy" Steffen. Bob and Cathy had many friends and enjoyed an active social life. Bob gave up drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes in the 1960s but was a big fan of Pepsi Light and Diet Coke.

After working for two decades in New York's printing industry, Bob founded his own business, A1 Hot Press, Inc. with his longtime friend and colleague John Rodriguez. When computer technologies rendered hot press printing almost obsolete, Bob took work as an elevator starter in the World Trade Center. He was on duty during the bomb attack in 1993 and escaped the smoke-filled basement where several maintenance workers were killed by the blast. Bob retired the following year.

In his spare time, Bob pursued a wide range of interests. He earned a black belt third degree in karate and joined the Mt Vernon Shooting Center; he loved deep sea fishing. Bob was an avid collector of coins, Hummel figurines, and Japanese netsuke (miniature carved toggles of wood, bone and ivory). He volunteered as an usher at the Church of St Clare, and participated actively in the Knights of Columbus, serving as Grand Knight of the Father John C. Drumgoole Council, #5917.

Bob began to develop dementia in his eighties. His wife Cathy cared for him at home until after a series of cardiac episodes Bob entered Carmel Richmond Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center. He was a well-liked and respected member of the Carmel Richmond community. Bob passed away after a brief illness on October 28, almost two years to the day after Cathy predeceased him.

Bob is survived by his two children Robert (Nancy) Foster and Kathleen (Frank) Guerra, four grandchildren, and six great grandchildren.

Donations in lieu of flowers can be made in Bob's name to Carmel Richmond Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center and Staten Island University/Northwell Hospice.