Scott Foster ’58 K’32 K’1898
David Scott Foster Jr., “Scott” to those who knew and loved him, passed away peacefully at Hilton Head Hospital on February 16, 2017 after sharing loving conversations with each of his six children and accompanied by his wife of 46 years, Susan, at his bedside. He was 81 years old.
Scott was the first born to Constance Titus and David Scott Foster on May 21, 1935 in East Orange, New Jersey. His Father was a second generation floor member of the New York Stock Exchange and founding partner of Pershing and Company. He was followed by three siblings, a brother Howard Crosby Foster II, and twins, Nicholas and Natalie (“Nini”).
Growing up in Scotch Plains and Plainfield, NJ, Scott played several sports in school including football, hockey, and lacrosse. He would later joke that “I liked playing goalie whenever possible because I didn't have to run so much. I was saving my energy for great saves.” He enjoyed the summers of his youth at Wyanoke camp in Wolfeboro NH and on family vacations to Point O'Woods on Fire Island, Buck Hill, PA and Bay Head NJ where he developed a love of sailing at the Bay Head Yacht Club. When he was 19, Scott took flying lessons and after taking lessons for 4 1/2 hours the instructor hopped out of the plane while they were sitting on the runway and told Scott to give it a try solo, which he successfully did.
Scott graduated from Deerfield Academy in 1953 and the Lawrenceville School in 1954 and attended Princeton University, earning a BS in Psychology in 1958. That same year he met Helen Lardner and was married after graduation.
Shortly thereafter, Scott went on active duty as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Air Force. After a few months training in Florida, he was stationed near Alicante, Spain where he learned to use radar to find enemy air craft and direct fighter plans to shoot them down. He later said “no planes were ever shot down because we were at peace at that time.” As a result, Scott and the other air force tower personnel became great card players, favoring “hearts” and “gin rummy”. While in Spain, Scott became interested in Spanish culture. He learned to speak Spanish well enough to get by, and enjoyed tracing the steps of his favorite author Ernest Hemingway. He felt living in Spain was a great experience particularly with the addition of his first daughter, Laura, who was born at Torrejon Air Force Base. Scott was honorably discharged from the Air Force attaining the rank of Captain.
Returning to the States in 1961, he joined his father’s brokerage firm and started a career on Wall Street on the American Stock Exchange. He served on many Exchange committees and eventually on the Board of Governors. Two more daughters, Elizabeth and Katherine joined the first.
By November, 1970 Scott had been divorced and had met and subsequently married, Susan Morgan in Bermuda. Susan had two sons, Robert and Morgan, who he happily adopted and together Scott and Susan had a son, David Scott Foster III.
In 1975, Scott moved to the New York Stock Exchange where he finished his career in 2000 as a self-employed floor broker. He was a proud member of the Buttonwood Club and the AMEX 5 and 20 Club.
During his working years, Scott and Susan lived in Tewksbury Township, NJ and had a vacation home in Buck Hill Falls, PA. Scott served his community as a Board member of Provident Bank, an ordained Elder in the Presbyterian Church, and Trustee of Muhlenberg Hospital. He was a Board member of the Plainfield Country Club in Edison NJ and a member of the Essex Hunt Club and Larger Cross Roads Gun Club in Pepack, NJ, but by far his greatest passion was the Log Cabin Gun Club where he was a member for 54 years including serving as President for 15 years. An outstanding trap and skeet shooter, Scott won so many trophies at his beloved club that at his insistence, the membership instituted a rule limiting the number of weekly awarded mugs to two a year. The Club named him its “Centennial Member” upon its 100th anniversary.
Following his retirement, Scott and Susan moved to Hilton Head Island, SC where he remained active as a South Carolina Registered Real Estate Agent, Director/Member Global EnviroSystems LLC, Member of the Board of Captains Quarters Condominium Association, Served on the Board of the Shelter Cove Harbor Company , served on House Committee of Country Club of Hilton Head, President of the Precinct 7B Hilton Head Island Republican Club, Delegate to the South Carolina Republican Convention, and Corporate Secretary and Director of the Hillside Cemetery Association.
Scott’s self-proclaimed favorite hobbies in his retirement were “computers (he owned one of the first Apple computers), genealogy, photography, listening to all sorts of not modern music, reading books about history and politics, going to all sorts of doctors, and NOT playing golf”.
Scott will be forever remembered by his friends and family as modest, gracious, and generous, who loved to hear and tell great humorous stories. He was a true gentleman. He is survived by his wife Susan, daughters Laura Ruiz, Liz Crowley and husband Michael, Katherine and husband Joe, and sons Robert and his wife Katherine Whittier, Morgan and his wife Tamara Whittier, and David Scott “Turk” Foster III and his wife, Joanna. In addition he is survived by his nine grandchildren, McKey, Kate, Derry, Megan, Jack, Liam, Eli, Kaden, and Drew, and two great grandchildren.