Obituary of Albert O. Foster

Foster, Albert O. "Bert" Age 80, of Spring Park, MN, formerly of Deephaven, passed away Monday, May 22, 2017. Preceded in death by his parents Hodgen Torrey Foster and Marjorie Capen Foster Sheldon, wife Sharon Lee Foster and sister Marian Foster Clifford. Bert graduated from St. Louis Country Day School '54, and Cornell University '60. He also attended Harvard Business School Executive Program. He was CEO of Cir-Tec and American Plastics Exchange, and also was a broker at Dean Witter. Bert represented the City of Deephaven on the Lake Minnetonka Conservation District board for 17 years and served as chair from 2001-2004. An avid sailor, Bert was an early member of Wayzata Yacht Club. He served on the WYC and Wayzata Community Sailing Center boards for many years. He was Race Committee Chair for most of that time, and was Commodore from 1975-1976. In 2015 Bert was awarded the WYC inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award. Known for inviting new sailors to the club, especially women, Bert ran a new sailor training program with Ernest Brody for many decades. Through the years, many crew members and boat owners were introduced to sailing through the "Bert and Ernie" show, and the Wayzata Yacht Club now has more women sailors as a percentage of membership than any yacht club in the world. In addition to winning countless championships at WYC, Bert also officiated at many out of town regattas including Bayfield Race Week and LOWISA for multiple decades. An avid hunter, Bert suffered a disabling hunting accident in 1967. This disability allowed Bert to qualify as a member of the United States Disabled Sailing Team from 2007-2011, competing in regattas all over the world. Bert was a devoted member of St. Martin's by-the-Lake Episcopal Church, serving on the Foundation board and as a member of the Vestry. Bert is survived by his wife, Carmella Zagone Foster; sons Albert "Terry" (Mary) Foster, Andrew (Beth) Foster and William (Jennifer) Foster and their mother, Lucinda "Cindy" Goodale Pratt; Brother, Torrey (Anne) Foster and sister, Claire (Marshall) Evans; Grandchildren Susie, Amy, Clara, Kate and Billy Foster, step children Mike Lee, Kathy Lee Rassouli, Christine Lee Athey, Steve Lee, Amanda Busch, Zachariah Busch, and Andrew Busch; and step grandchildren Sarah and Maria Rassouli, Trenton and Collin Lee, Jennifer Athey, Antoinena Kuntze, and Rosaria Busch. There will be a celebration of Bert's life on Saturday, August 5th at Wayzata Yacht Club at 2pm. It was Bert's wish that memorial gifts be directed to the Wayzata Community Sailing Center or St. Martin's by-the-Lake Church in Minnetonka Beach, MN.