Geraldine Foster, 95

SOMERSET, MASS. – Geraldine (Segal) Foster, of Somerset, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family. Mother of Judith (Mark Andres), Vivian (Rudy Drolet), Libby (Miko Agai) and Harold (Sara Ann Ritch); grandmother of Beryl, Abby, David, Avi, Sasha, Adam, Dov and Deana; and great-grandmother of Brooke, Levi, Ezra, Shea, Aaron, Beau, Rose, Zoey, Elia, Maddy, Avis and Della; she was born to Chaya (Waxman) and Beryl Segal in Rochester, New York; sister of Annette (Segal) Hockman.

She lived most of her life in Providence, where she was a lifelong member of Temple Beth-El.

She graduated from Classical High School (summa cum laude) and received an AB from Pembroke College in 1949 and an MAT from Brown University in 1966. She had a passion for teaching and writing. During her career, she was chair of the English department at Nathan Bishop Middle School.

She researched and wrote extensively about the history of the Jews of Rhode Island. Alongside the many articles she wrote for the RI Jewish Historical Association Notes and The Jewish Voice (now Jewish Rhode Island), she co-edited “Jews of Rhode Island, 1658-1958.” She had an extraordinary impact on Jewish communal life in RI, having served as president of organizations such as the Women’s Division of the Jewish Federation of RI, the Bureau of Jewish Education, the Devorah Dayan chapter of Na’Amat and the RI Jewish Historical Association. 

The funeral will take place at Temple Beth-El, 70 Orchard Ave., Providence, at noon on Thursday, Feb. 15. Interment will follow at 2 p.m. in Lincoln Park Cemetery, 1469 Post Road, Warwick. Shiva will be held at the home of Harold and Sara Foster, 16 Columbus Ave., Barrington, RI, on Thursday (2/15), 7-9 p.m.; Friday (2/16), 1-4 p.m.; and Saturday (2/17), 6-8 p.m.

Donations can be made to the Chaya and Beryl Segal Archives of the RI Jewish Historical Association or Na’Amat.