Michael Ian Foster

Michael Ian Foster, passed away peacefully Thursday, January 14, 2021, at the age of 91… a few months shy of his 50th wedding anniversary. A loving human, he will be deeply missed by all that were fortunate enough to meet him.

Michael was predeceased by his first wife Betty Evans, his parents, and his brother John (& wife Jane). He is survived by his wife Loree, children David, Deborah, Karin (Gavin), Wendy, Lorne (Heather), Grandkids (Samantha, Melissa, Connor, Callum).

Born in 1929, in Poole, Dorset to Ethel Jacobs and Myles Foster. Growing up near the sea were happy days. Many memorable trips to their beach hut, making sandcastles, exploring, and swimming in his beloved sea.

WWII influenced his youth. Both he and his brother joined the Air Cadets. Wartime activity in Dorset included Air raids, waves of bombers, fighter escorts, ships, and invasion crafts. Michael was a messenger boy during air raids. Exciting times for a young boy who collected shrapnel from the barb wired beaches. He graduated at 17 with an Oxford School Certificate in 1945 as the war ended. He was then called up at 18 to serve in the RAF for 2.5 years.

At 20, he continued his education and trained to be an art and drama teacher, and at 24 accepted a teaching position in Yorkshire. His love of theatre blossomed, and he left teaching at 25 to become a professional actor at The Playhouse Theatre in Oxford. He started his acting career alongside future legends, Maggie Smith, and Ronnie Barker. After 3 years, he was off to London and the West End, followed by tours throughout Britain.

During this time, Michael met Welsh/ Canadian Betty Evans, an aspiring singer & actress performing in Britain. A move to Canada followed in 1957, at the age of 28, with acting in Toronto and Betty’s hometown of Vancouver. Marriage followed in 1958 and he resumed his teaching career. David was born in 1959, Deborah in 1961, and Wendy in 1964. In 1969, tragedy struck after 11 years of marriage when Betty died of cancer at 43.

Michael focused on supporting his young family and inspiring future generations of art teachers, through his 30yr career at UBC, in Art Education as a Professor in the Education Department. He often taught his art program at UVIC in the summers. In addition to his UBC career, he broadcast a monthly CBC art program, “Pictures in the Air”, taught Saturday morning art classes at the local community Centre & was also highly involved with the West Van United Church where he directed 17 productions, lent his creative expertise for many church banners, Sunday school art activities, the Christmas Nativity pageant, & the Art Gallery at the Church sale. He met Loree while he was teaching at UVIC & they married in 1971, with her two children, Karin (8) & Lorne (6) joining his children, David (11), Deborah (9) & Wendy (7). The union of children that did not dampen their eternal love for each other.

Michael helped inspire many a soul with his caring, creative, and fully present spirit. Always keenly interested in people, he had a gift for making everyone feel special and valued. He was a creator of traditions and he was most proud of his family. Sunday dinners, birthdays and holidays were special times, joyously directed by Michael. He created unique, home-made birthday cards and games and was always ready with a pre-dinner speech or a special game to bring fun interactions to any occasion.

Retired from UBC in 1989, Michael returned to acting, in theatre, movies, television, commercials, and voice overs until his early 80’s. Michael and Loree visited Britain many times. He loved visiting his extended family in Britain, Canada, and the USA. He was a bright light of positivity, kindness, compassion, and inclusiveness, whose light will never go out in those he lit up with his attentive words, his warm embrace, and his Princely manners.

Many thanks to Lions Gate Hospital and his health care professionals, who frequently cared for Michael over the past few years, and for the humane gesture to allow his immediate family to be at his side for his remaining hours.

Michael’s ashes will rest at the Memorial Garden at West Vancouver United Church.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.firstmemorialnorthvancouver.com for the Foster family.