Obituary of Thomas Ainslie Foster

On Friday, November 12, 2010, Dr. Thomas A. Foster passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by his loving family. Tom is survived by his wife Mary (Bate) and by his five children, Gary (Keltie), Joan (Bob Hurst), David (Susan), Douglas, Linda (Cheryl); five grandchildren; Michael, Angela, John, David and Jane; one sister Jean and her six children.Tom and Mary celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in June. Tom was born in New Glasgow, NS, in 1925, to Thomas Ainslie and Doris (Green) Foster. He graduated in medicine from Dalhousie University in 1950, followed by four years of post graduate study in obstetrics and gynecology in Halifax, NS and Saint John, NB. He obtained his specialist certificate from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1954. He joined Dr. Joseph Tanzman to practise in Saint John, NB and later formed a partnership with Dr. Elmer Andrade. During his practice, Dr. Foster was associated with the delivery of more than six thousand babies. His early retirement in 1979 was in part due to ill health and also to join his sons Gary and David in several successful commercial ventures. During his medical career, Tom was awarded a Fellowship in the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada and a Fellowship in the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. He was a past president of the medical staff of the Saint John General Hospital, past president of the Saint John Medical Society and past president of the Medical Council of New Brunswick. Tom’s interests were many and varied. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and for many years was a licensed guide in the province of New Brunswick. Over the years he participated in many sports and continued to follow most via the media. He was a past member of Westfield Golf Club, Thistle Curling Club and Riverside Country Club. In 1970 he skipped his mixed curling team to a New Brunswick championship. He was also a past member of the Saint John Power Boat Club and had extensive cruising experience with his family and friends in the St. John River system, the Bay of Fundy and the eastern seacoast of the United States. He earned his forty ton masters ticket from the Canadian Coastguard and had a part time commercial fisherman’s license from 1979 to 1989. He was an active participant with Gary and David in Fundy Fish Ltd., a retail wholesale seafood business that also included a fast food seafood restaurant. After retirement in 1989, he spent many months each year on the family hobby farm in Charlotte County. At Tom’s request, there will be no visitation, and the family will be having a private memorial service. For family and friends who wish to join in a celebration of Tom’s life, a reception will be held in the Kennebecasis Room of the Hilton Hotel on Tuesday, November 16, from 4:00 – 6:00 PM. Arrangements have been entrusted to Brenan's Funeral Home, 111 Paradise Row, Saint John (634-7424). The family is grateful to Dr. Chris O’Brien and the Extra-Mural nurses for their kindness and special care given to Tom.