David E. Foster ’60 died on July 16, 2024, in Altoona, Iowa.
(The following was provided by The Neptune Society in July 16, 2024:)
David Earle Foster passed away peacefully, with his wife and daughters by his side, on July 16, 2024, at the age of 85.
David was born to Dr. Irving and Dorothy Foster (Beeken) on August 17, 1938, in Lexington, Virginia. He spent many afternoons accompanying his father to the Virginia Military Institute, where Irving was a professor of physics, which imparted an appreciation for academia that persisted throughout his life. His parents encouraged David to be a curious student, work hard, and respect the natural world. An avid outdoorsman, David was a proud Boy Scout and member of the Order of the Arrow. After graduating from high school in 1956, he completed his undergraduate degree at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, where he was a member of the Beta Theta Pi Fraternity.
He graduated from Bowdoin in 1960 with a B.S. in English and went on to pursue his master’s degree at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. David met his wife and cherished companion, Sue Ellen Pottenger (Suzy), within a week of moving to Madison. While neither could have known it at the time, thus began a love that would endure the rest of their lives. The two enjoyed a happy courtship while working toward their respective degrees and embedding themselves in the culture at Madison. By 1962, David was contentedly engrossed in academic life and, after two years of dating, sure that his future would include Suzy. With plans to leave Madison for military service looming in the near future, convincing Suzy to take a break from school and venture into an unknown future made solidifying their engagement no small feat. Fate prevailed, and they were married on August 31, 1963, in Indianapolis. The newlyweds embarked on a honeymoon road trip to Prince Edward Island, where their car promptly broke down on the ferry and blocked dozens of cars behind them. This is agreed upon as one of the first examples of a favorite Foster family tradition, cars and boats breaking down at incredibly inconvenient moments. The family remains appreciative of the many neighbors and strangers who have assisted in their various transportation woes throughout the decades.
David was stationed at Ft. Richie from 1963 through 1965. He was a first lieutenant in military intelligence and would, with a laugh and a shrug, be quick to sum up this intriguing title with “I was a paper pusher”. When his service was complete, the couple moved back to Madison where David spent two years working on his PhD and Suzy completed her education. They welcomed their first daughter, Erika, in March of 1969. David defended his thesis shortly thereafter, was subsequently offered a teaching position at Drake University, and by June the family was living in Des Moines. A year later in September of 1970, they welcomed their second daughter, Jenny. David penned a celebratory announcement card, exclaiming ‘Another Woman Liberated!’ with a drawing of a stork holding the baby and their family was complete. David was an invested father who encouraged his daughters to ask questions and participate in the world around them. Dinner conversations were never lacking, the girls were expected to be seen and heard, and family trips were numerous. Whether they were off camping or gathering at the Boulder cabin, David encouraged his daughters to participate in the outdoors as much as he could. While he would laugh and say there were some scary years with two teenage daughters and a spirited match in Suzy, David was not the type to fret over being the only man in the house. He supported and encouraged his daughters, and is remembered as a loving, fair Dad who loved a good laugh.
Drake University was a deeply embedded part of David’s life. He taught at the school as a Professor Emeritus of English from the fall of 1969 until his retirement in 2004, and spent the final years as an associate dean in the English department. Over the decades he taught scores of students, graded hundreds of essays, and contributed to the legacy of an institution of which he was proud to be a part. He published two books (and working on a third before his death), contributed to numerous publications, and helped to edit many projects. Those who spent time with him in his post-retirement years can attest that it was not the things he’d written or recognitions he’d earned that were brought up in conversation most often. David fondly remembered students who’d made an impression, essays that provided a perspective he’d never encountered, insights from colleagues that made him a better teacher and writer. While he strove for success and achievement in his life, he appreciated that this is best measured through the impact one makes on the people around them. He was forever curious, and open to learning from anyone who might have something to teach. He took great joy in being asked a thoughtful question and would unfailingly provide a considered response, especially when posed at the dinner table and paired with a delicious meal from head chef Suzy and good wine.
These qualities naturally led to a cultural curiosity that propelled many significant moments in David’s life. The Fosters hosted numerous foreign exchange students throughout the 80s and 90s, which livened conversations at home and provided an avenue to help others experience the Midwest. Interested in European culture and comparing the study of English to that of the German language, David received his first Fulbright award in 1997. He and Suzy embarked on a year-long sabbatical in Muenster, Germany, traveling as much as they could around Europe while David studied, taught and wrote while Suzy delighted in exploring. When he and Suzy returned in the summer of 1998, they had two new granddaughters awaiting them and would welcome their grandson by 2000. In 2002, David received a second Fulbright award to teach at the Technical University of Dresden. The pair spent another six months enjoying the rich experiences they would go on to recount at dinner parties for years to come. Many evenings were spent happily describing the beauty of Dresden, discussing the history of the place, and connecting these with their own impressions.