Norman E. Foster

Norman E. Foster- November 19th, 1930 – November 14th, 2023, age 92, of Snyder, NY, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family and dear loved ones. Norman Foster was born in the southern tier hamlet of Obi, NY, on November 19th, 1930. He was the second youngest son of the late Cleo Foster Sr. and Gladys Foster (nee Owens). Mr. Foster graduated from Portville High School in 1949 and went on to study Physical Education at Cortland State Teachers College, where he earned his Bachelors Degree in 1953 and met the love of his life and wife of 70 years, Nancy June Maney.

Norman Foster starred in four sports at Cortland, set records for the Red Dragon football team, was an active alumni, and became inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame in 2001. He married Nancy Maney on December 26th, 1953, and served in the US Marine Corps in the Pacific for two years during the waning years of the Korean Conflict and US occupation of Japan.

Mr. Foster returned stateside in 1955 and began a prodigious and inspired 36-year teaching and coaching career with the Iroquois and Amherst Central Schools. His Iroquois wrestling teams won 10 straight Section VI titles and set a national record for 143 consecutive wins. Coach Foster was a pioneering advocate for the sport of wrestling in Section VI and New York State, served as the Section VI wrestling chairperson, and was inducted into the NYS Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame in 1982.

Coach Foster began teaching at Amherst in 1966 and coached football, wrestling, and track for the Tigers until his retirement in 1991. He mentored and positively impacted many young people throughout his career, coached sectional and state champion athletes, and was blessed to coach his sons in wrestling and football. Mr. Foster is in the Portville, Iroquois and Amherst High School Sports Hall of Fames and he was inducted in 1999 to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Norman Foster led a life of service to humankind and he was a man of deep faith in God. He was ordained a permanent deacon for the Diocese of Buffalo in 1982 and his ministry included pastoral service at Wyndham Lawn Home for Children, St. Augustine parish in Clarence, Christ the King in Snyder, and St. Jude in downtown Buffalo. He was active with the Christian Cursillo movement, Kairos ministry in local prisons, and with his wife Nancy strongly committed to community service with Meals on Wheels and nursing home visitations.

Family was of the greatest importance to Mr. Foster and he poured out his love, support, guidance, loyalty, and wisdom generously, delightfully, and tirelessly for all. He was predeceased by six siblings, the late Arlene, Eugenia, Marion, Cleo Jr., Stanley, and David.

Norman Foster is survived by his beloved wife of 70 years, Nancy Foster (nee Maney), his six children, Michael (Kathleen), Pamela, Timothy (Katrina), Daniel (Kim Marie), Norman Jr. (Kimberlee), and Patrick (Danielle), and by his 21 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.

The family welcomes friends and the community during the hours of 4 to 8 pm on Thursday, November 16th, at the Dengler Roberts Perna Funeral Home at 8630 Transit Road, East Amherst. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11am on Friday at Christ the King Church, 30 Lamarck Dr, in Snyder. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to a charity of your choice.