Obituary: Aaron Foster

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Aaron Foster

Port Townsend, Wash.

Oct. 18, 1977 — Feb. 2, 2017 

Aaron Thaddeas Foster, 39, of Port Townsend, Wash. died at home on Feb. 2, 2017 after a long and painful struggle with a complex disorder of depression and unstable mood and energy. Aaron is survived by his wife Heather Hartley Foster; mother Jan Konzack; father Bob Foster; brother Robert “Nathan” Foster; and his stepfather John Tappon. In addition to many other loved ones, he also leaves his best friend since fourth grade, Brennan McCommon, and his “other mom,” Nancy Wood Hart.

Aaron was born in The Dalles, Oregon on Oct. 18, 1977, and moved to Corvallis, Oregon in 1987. During his primary and secondary school years he was a strong and passionate swimmer, and the Corvallis Aquatic Team was a significant part of his extended family. Among his many other interests, he loved playing jazz saxophone with his Corvallis High School friends.

After graduating from Corvallis High in 1996, he attended the University of Oregon College of Arts and Sciences, receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting and Environmental Studies in 2002. Pursuing one of his other loves, he took time off from school to participate in WWOOF (Willing Workers on Organic Farms) in New Zealand.

Aaron followed his heart and wide-ranging talents in his work, from organic gardening to carpentry. He had a special gift that connected him to children, the lonely and the mentally ill, and with his charm, wit and compassion he provided them many lessons in art and in life. His creativity influenced every aspect of his being, but was particularly evident in his two-dimensional art, exploration and mastery of cooking, and development of board and computer-strategy games.

On Sept. 8, 2012, Aaron married fellow artist and dear friend Heather Hartley in Corvallis. They loved to hike and backpack, and their favorite trip was to Vancouver Island’s West Coast Trail. His family and friends are deeply thankful to have had the opportunity to join Aaron on his many treks to the mountains and canyons of Oregon, Washington, Montana, California and Utah.

We will all miss his beautiful smile and laughter, as well as his brilliance and talented artistry. We’ll also miss his bad jokes, crazy pranks and extravagant schemes. He was a deep and intuitive thinker, kind to everyone, and was both private and public, with a keen sense of how to balance both. Aaron was loved by many, and his loss is a deep sorrow in our hearts. His illness was a difficult burden, one that he tried hard to accept and overcome. He is now free from his pain.

A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 4 in Corvallis at the Children’s Farm Home in the Historic Old School, with Reverend Jill McAllister officiating.

Memorial donations can be made to the National Alliance on Mental Illness on their website, www.nami.org.