Frederic A. Foss

COLUMBIA, NEW HAMPSHIRE – Mr. Frederic A. Foss, 85, of Bungy Road, Columbia, New Hampshire, passed away early Wednesday morning, June 6, 2007, at the Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital following a lengthy battle with heart disease. Mr. Foss was born February 19, 1922, in Lynn, MA, son of the late Arthur and Naomi (Williams) Foss. Mr. Foss was graduated from Tufts University in 1944 with an EE degree and having been an honorary fraternal member of Tau Beta Pi and Sigma X. He joined the United States Army Corps, graduating from OCS and was stationed in the Philippines during World War II. Upon returning home, he received his ME from MIT and did doctoral work before joining IBM and moving to Binghamton, NY, in the 1950s where he was responsible for several patents involving computers. He moved to Huntsville, AL, in the 1960s, working on the space program with several prominent scientists, including Dr. Werner Von Braun, to put men on the moon. He transferred to Morristown, NJ, in the late 1960s to work on the US Missile Defense program. He left IBM and moved to Colebrook in the early 1970s to live in the area that he loved after having spent summers in Colebrook as a young child. He was a past member of the Colebrook Kiwanis Club and one of the original founders of the Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital, serving on the Board of Directors and the Assembly of Overseers. He was also active with the Monadnock Congregational Church over the past 30 years, having chaired the scholarship committee. He served as a former selectman and planning board member for the Town of Columbia, while also serving as a member of the New Hampshire Legislature for several years, co-chairing the Governor’s Committee for Science and Technology. He also supported the Cohos Trail by permitting a lean-to to be air-lifted to a mountain which he owned where the trail crossed. Mr. Foss will be remembered by his friends for his love of the Columbia outdoors, and his enthusiasm and determination in any cause he undertook. To those who knew Fred well, he took with him the location of the secret solstice rock formation he found in the back country behind his mountain. Mr. Foss is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Sally (Ellison) Foss of Columbia, NH, and formerly of Rochester, NY; a son, Gary Foss of Columbia, NH; two daughters, Carolyn Foss-Monson and husband, Phil, of Columbia, NH, and Betsy Foss and fiancé, Chuck Mangos, of Rochester, NY; a step-mother, Doris Foss of St. Albans, VT; a grandson, Tucker Foss-Stockwell and wife, Sabrina, of Clifton Park, NY; and two nephews, David Foss of Philadelphia, PA, and David Young of Fairbanks, AK. Mr. Foss is preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Russell Foss; and a nephew, Daniel Foss. At Mr. Foss’ request, there will be no calling hours. A memorial service will be conducted on Saturday, June 9, 2007, at 11:00 a.m. at the Monadnock Congregational Church in Colebrook with The Reverend Rebecca Larson officiating. Expressions of sympathy in Mr. Foss’ memory may be made to the Colebrook Kiwanis Club, P.O. Box 241, Colebrook, NH 03576. Condolences may be offered to the family on-line by going to www.jenkinsnewman.com. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Jenkins & Newman Funeral Home, Colebrook, NH.

Frederic A. Foss

February 19, 1922 - June 6, 2007