Foster Parmelee Jr. ’46

Foster Parmelee died at his home in Featherston, New Zealand, July 18, 1997. Foster grew up in Buffalo and attended Exeter. He took part in the ROTC until the Marines tempted him away through the V-12 program and Japanese language training, which he later used in Korea.

Returning to Princeton, Foster wrote his thesis on the St. Lawrence Seaway and headed toward a career as an economist. He worked in the State Dept.'s intelligence and research section and with the Agency for International Development. His travels and assignments took him to London, Paris, Geneva, Korea, Japan, the two African Congos, Saigon, Manila, Bangkok, and eventually to Wellington, New Zealand.

Foster's peripatetic life was such that he married four times, having five children and three grandchildren. For the last 20 years, Foster lived in New Zealand with his fourth wife, Helene, teaching high school, playing tennis, raising retrievers, and engaging in horticulture.

A number of Foster's friends and family assembled July 26 at the Bethesda Unitarian Church, near Washington, D.C. His daughter brought his 50th reunion jacket to the service; Alan Lukens represented the class.

Foster leaves his four wives, Jean, Terry, Mary Lou, and Helene, children Suzanne, Judith Barnhard, Steven, James, and John, as well as his brother, Alfred. The class will miss this fascinating and loyal classmate, whose devotion to Princeton was indeed remarkable; we send our deep sympathy to Foster's family and friends.

The Class of 1946