It’s been a hard year for Tumbler Ridge.
In the last 12 months, we’ve lost such long-term community members as Grace Walsh, Harry Prosser, and now, Doug Foerster.
His family has provided his obituary above, but I asked some of his friends in town about their memories of him.
Crys White
Doug and his wife Rosemary moved to Tumbler Ridge about the same time as Larry and I and so many other seniors did, around 2001.
We became members of the Wolverine Nordic and Mountain Society (WNMS) and formed the “Valley Group” and enjoyed many hikes (less strenuous but very enjoyable), as well as many picnics, dinners and outings together. We volunteered to help with the various WNMS activities including the biathlon, the ski races, and, of course, the Emperor’s Challenge. Doug became the face of the Emperor’s Challenge and headed it up for many successful years in his capacity as race director.
Doug also volunteered with the Tumbler Ridge Museum Foundation (TRMF) and many afternoons we saw him in the Peters’ backyard helping cast the theropod footprints that you can still buy today. He also enjoyed sharing his expertise as a geologist identifying fossils for the “Fossil Road Show”.
Doug was an expert downhill skier and you could say he grew up on skis on Vancouver Island. He often told the story of being allowed to play hooky from school to go skiing with his favourite teacher. In later years he volunteered for the mountain ski patrol in Whistler and enjoyed the experience.
The first time I met Doug we were going to ski bridge to bridge on Flatbed Creek. I had never skied before and Doug followed me all the way. At the time I didn’t know about his expertise on skis. I best remember that trip because when we went down a slight incline to the creek bed, Doug face planted onto the ice! He retold that story with a grin in future years. Even experts can have a bad day. We enjoyed many cross country outings with Doug and Rosemary, including a fun day on “Shandy Lake” with the Valley Group. I remember skiing on Flatbed to the Murray River one of the few times we saw the Murray freeze. I have a sunny day photo of Doug, me, and his dog, Ranger, sitting on a log in the frozen River and eating our lunch of peanut butter sandwiches and coffee.
COFFEE!!! Doug made the worst coffee I have ever tasted. Eric Mueller and I used to tease him mercilessly about it…we were pretty sure it was days old.
Thankfully, his family bought him a new coffee maker in future years. We enjoyed many dinners with Doug and his family, always with the good dinner china glassware, napkins, wine, etc. In later years Doug was our welcomed dinner guest for many special occasions, not the least of which was his ninetieth birthday party. He often reminisced over that birthday.
Doug loved animals! Horses in particular. He and his family loved their time on Saltspring Island with their equines and he often told stories of Kim and Jody.
Doug also remembered his time working and riding horses for geological explorations in Alberta.
While living in Tumbler Ridge, Doug would visit the Saddle Club and bring carrots for Lockstar horse, Victoria donkey and later, Crow donkey. He never failed to visit at least once a week and the equines soon could recognize the sound of his vehicle coming up the road. After his dog, Ranger crossed the rainbow bridge, Doug acquired a crow, a squirrel and a feral cat. The cat, Vadar is a very large cat and somehow managed to get from the “NO cats in the house” to being a very loving and cuddly cat and a great indoor companion to Doug. Vadar is making his home with family in Calgary and seems to be settling in with two other cats.
Doug was determined to stay in Tumbler Ridge “why would I want to go anywhere else?” He loved life and especially his later years with new friends and new adventures. He will be missed for sure.
Charles Helm
Doug and Rosemary Foerster moved to Tumbler Ridge in the early 2000s as part of a wave of retirees. Soon Doug and Rosemary were involved in numerous volunteer activities.
Among many other contributions, Doug was a director on the board of the TRMF, helped build and maintain the WNMS hiking trails, and was Race Director for the Emperor’s Challenge for a number of years. He also delivered a memorable Itchy Feet presentation on his early days as a geologist in Canada’s Far North.
Doug then founded the Tumbler Ridge Hospice Palliative Care Society and chaired its board of directors, and this became a major passion. Many patients benefited from this group over the years, in particular those who needed hospital beds and other facilities so that they could comfortably spend their final days at home in Tumbler Ridge in the presence of their loved ones.
In all these activities his commitment and drive were evident to all his fellow-volunteers, as he led from the front. An abiding memory involves the building of the Bullmoose Marshes wheelchair accessible boardwalk. Already in his late eighties, Doug put in an entire day of hard physical labour and rejoiced with the work-team afterwards at the fruits of their efforts.
What was inspiring in recent months and years was how Doug said he would not want to live anywhere in the world but Tumbler Ridge. He was truly at peace here, and was a perfect fit for the community. His passing leaves a void—another of the ‘old guard’ has departed. Perhaps the best way to cherish our memories of Doug is to be inspired by his example and to consider how best each of us can appreciate and promote his legacy.
Rose Snyder
I first met Doug and Rosemary when they moved to Tumbler Ridge with the housing sale.
I quickly learned that the love of Doug’s life was Rosemary. They would often go to friends for tea and chats. He was a member in the 49 Forever Society, The Senior’s Needs Committee and many other gatherings and groups.
It was because of Rosemary and their relationship that I came to know the many aspects of Doug.
Fostering a relationship with Doug did not come easily and it took some time to develop one.
One of his most frustrating and memorable traits was he loved to talk!
I will always remember him coming to present at a council meeting at budget time.
To this day I am not sure if we granted him his request because we thought it was warranted or if we said yes just so he would stop talking!
However, one was not to be fooled by his chatter.
Doug was a brilliant man. He was driven by logic and determination, intellect and affection.
His dedication to Rosemary was equaled perhaps only by his determination to assist the people of Tumbler Ridge if they ever found themselves facing the need of obtaining Hospice and/or palliative care.
After Rosemary’s passing, he immersed himself in the Hospice Palliative Society of Tumbler Ridge trying to educate the community on the value and necessity of this service.
Doug remained dedicated to the society and its operation, which was brought to a major reduction in service last year when the unit was vandalized to the point of being unusable.
There are a lot of people in town whose loved ones or they themselves were helped by the Society and Douglas, whose passion remained with him until his passing.
I must say that in last ten years or so, I can look back and acknowledge what a privilege and an honour it was to know this amazing man. We would often talk of his sailing trips across the seas and of his life with Rosemary. His pride and love of his children and grand children, of Ranger his dog and more. He would remember fondly the members of the Hospice Society, and there were many. I believe he still could name every one. He was certainly one of a kind.
I Will remember Doug for as long as God will let me and I just pray there is a “Cecil” program in heaven. God knows he worked long and hard down here to get one!
