Obituaries

Remembering Edward Foster: 'He Was Filled With Awesome'

The Gales Ferry man drowned Saturday after jumping from a railroad trestle 30 feet down into the Saco River to swim, New Hampshire police said.

Edward Foster, the 30-year-old Gales Ferry man who drowned Saturday in the Saco River while vacationing in the Maine/New Hampshire area, was remembered by his friends on Facebook as being "a great friend, a great person and a wonderful soul."

Foster, a 2001 graduate of Ledyard High School, was on an annual camping trip in Maine with friends. They were jumping off a railroad trestle into the Saco River in Conway, N.H., when Foster drowned

Bill Toscano, a teacher at Ledyard High School from 1993 to 2002, knew Foster as a student and also as a friend of his daughter's, who graduated from Ledyard High the same year as Foster.

"He almost always had a smile and wanted to try new things," Toscano said Tuesday. "He was engaging and bright. You just had to like him."

Foster was also a 2006 graduate of Northeastern University, with a degree in computer engineering.

This was reflected in the numerous condolences posted to Foster's Facebook page since news of his death.

His sister Harriet posted, "He was 30 years old and filled with awesome. Thanks for all your thoughts and for speaking up about how shocking it is that he's gone. You'll be as glad as we are to know that his organs were recovered and have gone to help others. 

Thanks to everyone for your kind words and helpful offers. Thanks for being Ed's friend and for supporting each other on the loss of a friend."

From others:

Find out what's happening in Ledyardwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"I have no words to describe how much I miss you. You are my best friend and you always will be. I will be there for our family and all of our friends forever. I love you so much."

"I wish I had the chance to say goodbye .. I'm going to miss you, Ed, this doesn't seem real. Thank you for being an amazing friend."

Find out what's happening in Ledyardwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"I miss your presence in my home. I miss hearing "hi mom" when you walk in the door and your hugs. I smile when I walk by the wall where your butt mark used to be. I miss your devilish little grin and the sparkle of your beautiful eyes. I am grateful for all the memory gifts you have given. I am forever thankful for your unwavering friendship with my sons. We love you from the bottom of our hearts and know our paths are forever connected. Until were together again rest softly dear one. I love you."

"Prayer going out to all of Ed's family. So sad to hear the news that he was taken from the world way to soon."

"I am so sad the world has lost you. Edward, you were a great friend, a great person and a wonderful soul. You will be missed. I am so grateful for our friendship. Thank you."

"Received the devastating call from my brother today. I'm so glad I got a chance to see you out here in California a little while ago. I can see you hanging with Matthew Chew watching over us. We will miss you, but you'll forever be remembered. RIP"

"How can I accept the ever painful thought that a vibrant, handsome, man could be here and then gone in a matter of minutes? Edward leaves us happy memories of childhood and youthful promise, but now all bittersweet. My heart aches for Kit, Jill, Harriet, Nick as we all start our world over without him."

"I just got home from work and received the news of your passing. I am in shock. I will always remember the years of running we did together in high school. All good memories, RIP Ed"

"Can't believe this is true. My favorite person to debate politics with...RIP Ed"

"This is such sad news. I've lost the only other person in the world who knew what it was to be a Fishers Island kid who ended up at Ledyard HS. We still turned out alright. You'll be missed!"

"I can't wrap my mind around the idea that you're gone. There is no one like you in the world, and I'm glad for our friendship."

"Ed you always were up for doing something fun and lived life the way it was meant to be RIP bro we will miss you."

Full story of the tragedy can be read here.


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