Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Mary Foster

Mary Foster, the town's own 'Mother Goose,' dies at 72

By Shari Kaplan

Mary Foster, a Los Gatos resident for more than 40 years who wore many hats and juggled many positions in the community she loved, died July 30 at the age of 72.

Foster, a prolific poet and writer, and longtime town volunteer, died in her sleep at Los Gatos' Guardian Rehabilitation Center, where she was recovering from pneumonia and amputation surgery. She had also suffered from heart problems.

Born March 2, 1926, in Swink, Okla., young Mary Irene Bryant was made to feel stupid by one of her schoolteachers and never completed high school, according to her family. She went on to prove that teacher wrong, becoming an educated, self-made woman through theater arts studies at West Valley College as well as through reading and cultural events.

Foster wore so many hats that none of her many friends can name them all: she played the town Mother Goose for 20 years (sometimes she portrayed Santa Claus as well); founded Poetry for Everyone and the Poet Laureate Competition; acted at the former Old Town Theatre; volunteered at Forbes Mill Museum and served as volunteer curator; interviewed old-timers for Los Gatos--Then & Now on KCAT Channel 6; was a Grand Marshal in the Children's Christmas Parade; was the first Home and School Club president at Lexington School and began its lasagna dinner fundraiser; and wrote for the former Los Gatos Times-Observer and later the Los Gatos Weekly.

"She was a great role model, showing us all the things a person can do for the community," recalls friend Carol Anne Blisard, a member of Poetry for Everyone. "She was very spontaneous and had a wonderful sense of humor. She had an ability of making even strangers feel at ease. Everyone felt warmed by her when she was in the room."

Foster was predeceased by sons Martin Kevin Foster and Walter Scott Foster III. She is survived by daughter Elizabeth "Liza" Lindemann of Sauselito; sons Kay Lindemann of Washington, David Lindemann and wife Michelle of Pismo Beach, Leonard "Curt" Foster and partner Janet Bullis of Los Gatos; and grandchildren Morgan, Christina, Chelsey, Birge and Jaymes.

Memorial services have been held. There were several organizations important to Foster to which donations may be made. They include the Mark Twain High School Scholarship Fund, the Lexington School Library, the Los Gatos Children's Christmas Parade, the Los Gatos Museum Association and the American Heart Association.

[ Back to Contents Page | Los Gatos Weekly-Times Home Page | Archives ]