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June 22, 2014
Services
Friends may visit with the family on Thursday, June 26, 2014, from 2-4 and 7-9 PM at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne.
A Funeral Service will take place on Friday, June 27, 2014, beginning 12:30 PM at the funeral home. Interment will follow at Wyckoff Reformed Church Cemetery.
Robert Drew Foster, age 74 of Wanaque, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, June 22, 2014 after a three-year battle with cancer. He passed peacefully as his family was by his side singing hymns and reminiscing with him about the life God gave him and the glorious eternal life he was about to experience.
Bob was born in West Paterson. As a young boy, his family moved to Pompton Plains and Bob graduated from Butler High School in 1956. Soon after, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, went to boot camp and spent some time at sea before being sent by the Navy to Notre Dame University. He then returned to the Mediterranean where he finished out his service in 1960.
Back in New Jersey, one night his father convinced Bob to join him at the North Jersey Country Club in Wayne to watch his little sister and mother compete in their ladies bowling league. There he spotted a sweet young lady named Helena Fylstra who was bowling in that same league. Helena’s girlfriends and teammates gave her some money to get sodas and snacks from the concession stand. While waiting for her order to be filled, she noticed that Bob was looking at her so she asked him, “Why are you looking at me?” Bob didn’t answer but the next week he came to watch her again. This time he greeted her at the door and wasted no time to see if she would like to go out with him. Their first date was the following Saturday, March 11, 1961 at the Windham Restaurant and Dance Hall in Riverdale. They enjoyed spirited conversation, refreshing drinks and some shrimp cocktail. When the band started playing, Bob asked Helena if she’d like to dance. Helena knew the jitterbug – a popular dance of the day, so they danced to that and the cha-cha. While on the dance floor, Bob asked Helena out again. Helena’s response was, “you’re supposed to call me on the phone to ask me out.” Wasting no time, Bob called her the next day and the following Wednesday, they went to the drive-in movie theater. That night, when he dropped her off at home he kissed her. Helena played the organ for the congregation of Preakness Reformed Church. The following Sunday, Bob showed up at church. After the service, the pastor inquired as to what brought him to church that morning. Bob replied, “I’m here for the organist.” Exactly two months after their first date, on May 11, 1961, Bob asked Helena to marry him. Helena loved her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and since Bob came to agree that He needed to be first in their lives, she enthusiastically accepted Bob’s proposal. She received her engagement ring the following October 31st and they exchanged their vows before God, family and friends on April 6, 1962 at the Preakness Christian Reformed Church in Wayne (but Helena didn’t play the organ that day). A reception followed at the Eastern Christian High School cafeteria in North Haledon, catered by the Willing Workers, a group of volunteer women from Fourth Christian Reformed Church of Paterson.
After the wedding and their honeymoon in the Poconos, the newlyweds settled in Hawthorne beginning their life together as husband and wife. They were soon blessed with children – first Sandra in 1963, then Cynthia in 1964, Robert in 1966 and James in 1970. They eventually moved to Franklin Lakes where they lived for 39 years before moving to Wanaque two-and-a-half years ago.
Bob’s first job was with ITT in Paramus where he worked as a draftsman for five years. From there he joined the family business, JSC Wire and Cable in Wayne – manufacturers and distributors of wire. He started in the shipping department, moving through the ranks from salesman to sales manager, ultimately becoming the president. He loved his work for 47 years from 1964 to 2011 when he was diagnosed with leukemia, forcing him to step down.
Robert faithfully served as a deacon, then elder as well as a member of the Booster Club and he taught Sunday school and catechism at Franklin Lakes Christian Reformed Church. He later served as a deacon and elder at Faith Community Church of Wyckoff before he and Helena joined Hawthorne Gospel Church. There Bob cherished his role as usher where he was able to learn countless people’s stories. In his own somewhat quiet way, Bob ministered and blessed many by being a good listener and touching people’s hearts with kind words which came from his good heart and devotion to the Lord. Many would tell Helena what a great guy he was!
Bob loved being out in God’s creation, working in his gardens – both vegetable and flower. To Bob a good zucchini was a big zucchini – really big, and one time he tried growing watermelons but soon put a stop to that after he realized that they were taking over his whole yard. He loved his flowers including roses, daylilies and a variety of different annuals and perennials. The deer apparently liked the flowers too, one time eating all of his impatiens that were planted in the two barrels at the end of the driveway. As a young man Bob liked to go fishing and he was recently going to take up the sport again but his illness prevented him from that. Sailing was a sport he especially enjoyed and he taught all of his children how to sail a sunfish. The family cherished countless vacation memories at Lake Saint Catherine in Vermont and also Camp of the Woods in Speculator, NY. Bob was an avid sports fan. When he and Helena married he said, “now that we’re making this new start, why don’t we cheer for a new team together?” The agreed that they would root for the NY Mets and have continued all through their 52 years of marriage through the best times like 1986 when they posted a record of 108 wins and 54 losses, and the worst times, like their inaugural season of 1962 when they posted a record of 40 wins and 120 losses. For many years Bob had season tickets to Shea Stadium and the family enjoyed many good times in the old ballpark in Flushing Queens. Bob also rooted for Notre Dame and Army and Navy football and the football Giants. Originally a Knicks fan, he eventually converted to the Nets. Music was another important part of Bob’s life. He liked all genres, including country, pop, opera, and sacred music - both hymns and contemporary. If he liked a certain album or CD, then the neighborhood better like it too because Bob loved to play his music loud! His family eventually bought him headphones because they didn’t always embrace what he thought was great. He also enjoyed going to garage sales and he had one quirky, yet endearing hobby of purchasing weird little gadgets from weird little gadget magazines. He was soon on the mailing list of many of these peddlers of items that would just make you say, “Huh?”
Bob was a true-blue family man. He adored his wife and children and cherished his precious grandchildren. He loved the fact that God made each one of them unique. He found it easy to be patient with them and just enjoyed being with them. Even when he got sick three years ago, he would love throwing the ball to his youngest grandson Austin. If you asked his granddaughter Kristen when she was four years old, who she was going to marry she would get a smile on her face and say “I’m going to marry Grandpa.” Defining family transcended bloodlines as he loved all people and was always ready to serve them if they needed something. Even when he was sick himself, too sick to work anymore, he gladly drove other people who were sick to their doctor appointments. He met so many wonderful people as an usher at the church and he was always glad to listen to their problems over a cup of coffee and offer whatever advice he could to help them.
His Lord God was always first in Bob’s life and he learned a great deal from the Master about being a hard-working, quiet, humble servant who never needed to seek the limelight.
Robert is survived by Helena, his loving wife of 52 years; four children: Sandra Vriesema and husband John of Whitinsville, MA, Cynthia Flim and husband Robert of Hawthorne, Robert Foster and wife Cindy of Snohomish, WA, and James Foster and wife Tonia of Westmont, IL; and 13 grandchildren: Rebecca, Rachel, Kristen, Michael, Jonathan, Joshua, Matthew, Leah, Hannah, Katelyn, Jaden, Austin and Mia. Bob was predeceased by his sister Barbara Romano.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to The Foundation for Eastern Christian School, 50 Oakwood Ave., North Haledon, NJ 07508-2449, or Hawthorne Gospel Missions Program, c/o Hawthorne Gospel Church, 2000 Route 208, Hawthorne, NJ 07506, would be appreciated.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends may visit with the family on Thursday, June 26, 2014, from 2-4 and 7-9 PM at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne.
A Funeral Service will take place on Friday, June 27, 2014, beginning 12:30 PM at the funeral home. Interment will follow at Wyckoff Reformed Church Cemetery.
June 22, 2014
Services
Friends may visit with the family on Thursday, June 26, 2014, from 2-4 and 7-9 PM at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne.
A Funeral Service will take place on Friday, June 27, 2014, beginning 12:30 PM at the funeral home. Interment will follow at Wyckoff Reformed Church Cemetery.
Robert Drew Foster, age 74 of Wanaque, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, June 22, 2014 after a three-year battle with cancer. He passed peacefully as his family was by his side singing hymns and reminiscing with him about the life God gave him and the glorious eternal life he was about to experience.
Bob was born in West Paterson. As a young boy, his family moved to Pompton Plains and Bob graduated from Butler High School in 1956. Soon after, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, went to boot camp and spent some time at sea before being sent by the Navy to Notre Dame University. He then returned to the Mediterranean where he finished out his service in 1960.
Back in New Jersey, one night his father convinced Bob to join him at the North Jersey Country Club in Wayne to watch his little sister and mother compete in their ladies bowling league. There he spotted a sweet young lady named Helena Fylstra who was bowling in that same league. Helena’s girlfriends and teammates gave her some money to get sodas and snacks from the concession stand. While waiting for her order to be filled, she noticed that Bob was looking at her so she asked him, “Why are you looking at me?” Bob didn’t answer but the next week he came to watch her again. This time he greeted her at the door and wasted no time to see if she would like to go out with him. Their first date was the following Saturday, March 11, 1961 at the Windham Restaurant and Dance Hall in Riverdale. They enjoyed spirited conversation, refreshing drinks and some shrimp cocktail. When the band started playing, Bob asked Helena if she’d like to dance. Helena knew the jitterbug – a popular dance of the day, so they danced to that and the cha-cha. While on the dance floor, Bob asked Helena out again. Helena’s response was, “you’re supposed to call me on the phone to ask me out.” Wasting no time, Bob called her the next day and the following Wednesday, they went to the drive-in movie theater. That night, when he dropped her off at home he kissed her. Helena played the organ for the congregation of Preakness Reformed Church. The following Sunday, Bob showed up at church. After the service, the pastor inquired as to what brought him to church that morning. Bob replied, “I’m here for the organist.” Exactly two months after their first date, on May 11, 1961, Bob asked Helena to marry him. Helena loved her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and since Bob came to agree that He needed to be first in their lives, she enthusiastically accepted Bob’s proposal. She received her engagement ring the following October 31st and they exchanged their vows before God, family and friends on April 6, 1962 at the Preakness Christian Reformed Church in Wayne (but Helena didn’t play the organ that day). A reception followed at the Eastern Christian High School cafeteria in North Haledon, catered by the Willing Workers, a group of volunteer women from Fourth Christian Reformed Church of Paterson.
After the wedding and their honeymoon in the Poconos, the newlyweds settled in Hawthorne beginning their life together as husband and wife. They were soon blessed with children – first Sandra in 1963, then Cynthia in 1964, Robert in 1966 and James in 1970. They eventually moved to Franklin Lakes where they lived for 39 years before moving to Wanaque two-and-a-half years ago.
Bob’s first job was with ITT in Paramus where he worked as a draftsman for five years. From there he joined the family business, JSC Wire and Cable in Wayne – manufacturers and distributors of wire. He started in the shipping department, moving through the ranks from salesman to sales manager, ultimately becoming the president. He loved his work for 47 years from 1964 to 2011 when he was diagnosed with leukemia, forcing him to step down.
Robert faithfully served as a deacon, then elder as well as a member of the Booster Club and he taught Sunday school and catechism at Franklin Lakes Christian Reformed Church. He later served as a deacon and elder at Faith Community Church of Wyckoff before he and Helena joined Hawthorne Gospel Church. There Bob cherished his role as usher where he was able to learn countless people’s stories. In his own somewhat quiet way, Bob ministered and blessed many by being a good listener and touching people’s hearts with kind words which came from his good heart and devotion to the Lord. Many would tell Helena what a great guy he was!
Bob loved being out in God’s creation, working in his gardens – both vegetable and flower. To Bob a good zucchini was a big zucchini – really big, and one time he tried growing watermelons but soon put a stop to that after he realized that they were taking over his whole yard. He loved his flowers including roses, daylilies and a variety of different annuals and perennials. The deer apparently liked the flowers too, one time eating all of his impatiens that were planted in the two barrels at the end of the driveway. As a young man Bob liked to go fishing and he was recently going to take up the sport again but his illness prevented him from that. Sailing was a sport he especially enjoyed and he taught all of his children how to sail a sunfish. The family cherished countless vacation memories at Lake Saint Catherine in Vermont and also Camp of the Woods in Speculator, NY. Bob was an avid sports fan. When he and Helena married he said, “now that we’re making this new start, why don’t we cheer for a new team together?” The agreed that they would root for the NY Mets and have continued all through their 52 years of marriage through the best times like 1986 when they posted a record of 108 wins and 54 losses, and the worst times, like their inaugural season of 1962 when they posted a record of 40 wins and 120 losses. For many years Bob had season tickets to Shea Stadium and the family enjoyed many good times in the old ballpark in Flushing Queens. Bob also rooted for Notre Dame and Army and Navy football and the football Giants. Originally a Knicks fan, he eventually converted to the Nets. Music was another important part of Bob’s life. He liked all genres, including country, pop, opera, and sacred music - both hymns and contemporary. If he liked a certain album or CD, then the neighborhood better like it too because Bob loved to play his music loud! His family eventually bought him headphones because they didn’t always embrace what he thought was great. He also enjoyed going to garage sales and he had one quirky, yet endearing hobby of purchasing weird little gadgets from weird little gadget magazines. He was soon on the mailing list of many of these peddlers of items that would just make you say, “Huh?”
Bob was a true-blue family man. He adored his wife and children and cherished his precious grandchildren. He loved the fact that God made each one of them unique. He found it easy to be patient with them and just enjoyed being with them. Even when he got sick three years ago, he would love throwing the ball to his youngest grandson Austin. If you asked his granddaughter Kristen when she was four years old, who she was going to marry she would get a smile on her face and say “I’m going to marry Grandpa.” Defining family transcended bloodlines as he loved all people and was always ready to serve them if they needed something. Even when he was sick himself, too sick to work anymore, he gladly drove other people who were sick to their doctor appointments. He met so many wonderful people as an usher at the church and he was always glad to listen to their problems over a cup of coffee and offer whatever advice he could to help them.
His Lord God was always first in Bob’s life and he learned a great deal from the Master about being a hard-working, quiet, humble servant who never needed to seek the limelight.
Robert is survived by Helena, his loving wife of 52 years; four children: Sandra Vriesema and husband John of Whitinsville, MA, Cynthia Flim and husband Robert of Hawthorne, Robert Foster and wife Cindy of Snohomish, WA, and James Foster and wife Tonia of Westmont, IL; and 13 grandchildren: Rebecca, Rachel, Kristen, Michael, Jonathan, Joshua, Matthew, Leah, Hannah, Katelyn, Jaden, Austin and Mia. Bob was predeceased by his sister Barbara Romano.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to The Foundation for Eastern Christian School, 50 Oakwood Ave., North Haledon, NJ 07508-2449, or Hawthorne Gospel Missions Program, c/o Hawthorne Gospel Church, 2000 Route 208, Hawthorne, NJ 07506, would be appreciated.
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