Mark Foster

Most saddened to hear about Mark, whom I have known for decades. We worked together at Paul's Bookstore in Madison in the mid-1970s, and met up from time to time at the 602 Club on University. Much of what I learned about the used book trade I learned from Mark. Not only was he a great book man, he was a genuine humanist and far-ranging thinker. He had a great sense of humor and appreciation for life's many absurdities. He will be missed, deeply missed. Gerry Max

Mark is a shining light on the inward eye, much as sunlight reflects on a ripple in a stream and then redirects at the next swell. I entered the NLS project midstream and met Mark, who was to be my leader and mentor. We were all filled with the energy of youthful endeavor in those days, days that immediately preceded the onset of middle age and the change of consciousness and focus that accompanies that time of life. Mark welcomed me into the upper room of the NLS House – his office – where he would teach me about the work he and the others were engaged in, talk about his vision of where we would take the current development efforts, and share his gentle spirit of collaboration and creative energy. It didn’t seem like going to work back then. I’d arrive, get settled, pour a hot cup of coffee, and head up to Mark’s office to talk about what we were working on. His office was filled with books, classical music on NPR, design concepts on the chalk board, and warmth. Mark would lead our conversations through his thoughts about our work – drawing me into his creative process – while occasionally sharing snippets about life, his love of books and language, conceptual design, and music. He was the most unselfish and inspiring person I ever knew throughout my career. Just as our individual journeys join for a while in the continuous stream of time and human endeavor and then part, my time joined with Mark’s briefly and then moved on. As Mark’s journey has now moved beyond this mundane world, I reflect with gratitude and happy remembrance for the brief time he shared with me.

Of all the people I have ever known, Mark may have been the most intelligent, erudite, and clever. He managed, however, to hide a lot of that under a veneer of 'good old boy'. I worked closely with him on the NLS project and I enjoyed ever moment of that time. We laughed a lot. He had a great sense of humor. I don't ever remember him actually telling a joke but he saw the absurdity in many things and shared it with me. We laughed a lot. And his humor wasn't always sophisticated. I remember he at times would do this sort of scandinavian sounding voice pumping his arms and sounding like the Sesame St Swedish chef. He cracked me up - every time. I actually met him before I moved to Wisconsin and U/W. That first winter I was here, I was often at his Black Earth place getting firewood, making cider, whatever. Once we were making book shelves from old barn wood and the boards needed sanding. A effort saving method was needed. We tied each one to the bumper on his old beat up pickup; he drove down the gravel road while I sat on the board to weight it down. I know - it sounds like a case of 'hold my beer and watch this'. Maybe. We were young. I saw him rarely in the last few years after we retired. Mostly we ran into each other at a gas station near my house and we discussed dogs (we both had Aussies) and he would tell me how his stayed up nights scheming up ways to get the better of Mark. I also remember a lot of sitting around and either doing 'deep thoughts' or just sitting around. I also remember sitting on one of those big round hay bales and watching the light turn to night. Never enough of days like that.

I have warm memories of Mark from when we worked together in the Network Library System (NLS) at UW-Madison, 1984-1993. He was a supportive colleague who was always willing to share his knowledge and experience of the software systems. I still remember his welcoming smile and enthusiastic laugh that were present in the good moments as well as in challenging situations. I have an everlasting admiration for him because of his illuminating observations about life, politics and work. When it was my time to leave Madison, Mark kindly offered his help to make a few fixes to my house. I saw him for the last time when I visited Madison about six years ago, and I enjoyed hearing about his book trade and how his book collection was reducing the livable space in his house. He said it with that warm laugh, of course. I will always appreciate his friendship.

Dear Kathy, family and friends of Mark, I'm sorry to learn of Mark's untimely passing and offer my deepest sympathy for your loss. I trust you have many good memories of Mark as a husband, father and grandfather and all round friend. I worked with Mark on the Memorial Library automation during the 1980's and enjoyed it all. Mark brought significant expertise to the many issues but just as importantly, he was a willing partner in scoping out the full scope of a problem and exploring various solutions. My responsibilities for the catalog became ever so much easier and more rewarding in working with Mark. With sincere condolences, Jennifer Younger UW Memorial Library 1977-1991 Madison, WI