Friday 8 November 2013

Matt Foster Dies

It is with sadness that all Feildians mourn the passing of a beloved teacher and coach, Matthew John Foster. Matt was born in Broughshane, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, September 16, 1925.

After a long and stoic battle with cancer, endured with incredible fortitude, Matt passed peacefully away at home on Nov. 3, 2013, in the presence of his family and devoted caregivers.

He started his teaching career as principal of a one room schoolhouse at Kilcronaghan Primary School, in County Londonderry, N. Ireland, from 1947 to 1953. In August 1953, he immigrated to Canada with his young bride, Maud, and they both started teaching careers at Bishop Feild College and Bishop Spencer College. He developed sports and games programs there and went on for further training at Carnegie College in Leeds in 1958. On return to Newfoundland, Matt went on to teach at Bishop’s College from 1959 to 1961. He also did further Physical Education training and obtained a Master’s in Physical Education from Springfield College, Mass. in 1962. He joined the Dept. Of Physical Education & Athletics at Memorial University in 1961, and became Professor and Director of this School in 1964 until his retirement in 1986.

I began my school at BFC in Kdg. in 1952 and the next year Mr. Foster came. I can see him now playing badminton with his buddy John Hewson in the gym at Feild. That gymnasium was set some 12 feet into the ground so that spectators could look down from the rails above on the players below. He would always shout out "move on now" in that distinctive Northern Irish brogue.

Mr. Foster was a tough but fair teacher. He demanded the best from us at school and more so if you were lucky enough to be selected for one of his teams. He coached the Feildian Football Team in 1964 to the city championship.



Non Moriture Cujus Fama Vivit