Patricia Hatch Foster

Born on July 15, 1938, “Pat” was the daughter of George and Mary Lee (Seate) Hatch. She grew up in Fayetteville, North Carolina, along with her younger sister, Martha Sue. After graduating from Duke University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Pat married her Fayetteville sweetheart, Malcolm T. Foster, Jr., in 1960. In the couple’s early years, Pat worked as a public health nurse while Malcolm completed his medical education and training. She then became mother to Malcolm III, Allison, and David, making loving homes for the growing family in Gainesville, Florida, St. Louis, Missouri, Omaha, Nebraska, and finally Jacksonville, Florida in 1976 when Malcolm accepted a position as Chairman of Internal Medicine at Shands Hospital.

Pat pursued academic advancement and ultimately enjoyed an illustrious career in nursing education at the University of North Florida (UNF). She obtained a Master’s degree in psychiatric nursing from University of Nebraska Medical Center, and joined the faculty at UNF in 1976. She went on to obtain her Doctorate of Education from the University of Florida and was one of the founding members of UNF’s RN/BSN program. Pat served as department chair for more than five years, but her true joy was teaching psychiatric nursing, which she did for 40 years. Among her accolades, Pat was honored by the Florida Nurses Association as Nurse Educator of the Year in 1995. Her legacy at UNF is now honored with the Patricia H. Foster Graduate Nurse Endowed Research Fellowship.

Throughout her career, Pat took interest in child welfare and was an expert in medical foster care. From 2006 until her last years, she served on the Advisory Board of the First Coast Child ProtectionTeam. She helped establish a telemedicine program and advanced the role of nurses in child abuse examinations. She also served on the Ethics Commission of the Jacksonville City Council.

Pat is survived by her devoted husband Malcolm, son Malcolm (Beth) Foster III, MD; daughter Allison Foster, Ph.D.; son W. David (Jennifer) Foster, and nine grandchildren: Miranda, Mac, and Natalie Foster; Louis and Lydia DeFelice; Savannah and Clementine Foster; and Spence and Rollin Avery. Pat is also survived by her nephew Tom (Eileen) Hatch of Fayetteville, North Carolina, cousins Mary Lee (Lincoln) Tumey of Bluffton, South Carolina, Mary Ellen Seate of Chapel Hill, and extended family. Pat was preceded in death by her parents, sister, and cousins Nancy Seate, Bob Seate, Bobby Seate, and Jane Seate Facey.

The family extends its heartfelt gratitude to the Earl Hadlow Community Hospice home care team for their compassionate service and wisdom.

A private graveside service will be held in Oaklawn Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the “Patricia H. Foster Graduate Nurse Endowed Research Fellowship” by writing 5111-5406-4 in the comment line at https://give.unf.edu/nursing.