I met Lee in the early 1980s when I was working for Pacific Travel News. We both joined SATW and BATW and became good friends traveling together and attending travel-related functions. I started working with him in 2003 going to his house in Berkeley on a weekly basis. Later it was monthly. I loved working for him and breaking for lunch. What great conversations we had! Lee was kind, funny, and very generous. He truly was an innovator and was willing to share whatever he learned with anyone who wanted help. We were good good friends and I miss him dearly. Today (7-23-20) would have been Lee’s 77th birthday. Happy birthday, Lee!

Of the many words used to describe Lee Foster, the most commonly used is "Kind."

Kindness was a hallmark of the gentle giant I considered to be a dear colleague and friend. He was a giant not just in stature, but in everything about him: the way he treated others, his extraordinary body of work, the many prestigious awards he received, his dedication to craft, his generosity in teaching others what he pioneered, his great talents as a reporter, observer, photographer and philosopher, and his ability to innovate and lead travel communicators to online and self-publishing.

I will miss his wit, his guidance, and his love of discovering the new and untold within our golden state. But mostly, I will miss his friendship.

Each autumn, Lee and I would choose a different place to venture in search of California's gold, whether it be waiting in chill air at 9,225' on the shore of North Lake in the Eastern Sierra to capture aspen leaves backlit by the last rays of sunlight or in Quincy at the old county courthouse while framing it with drapes of bright yellow big leaf maple leaves. I was often his model, wearing a red jacket so that he'd have a spot of color in his Kodachrome slide.

Lee often spoke of his family and how important each of them was to him. While traveling somewhere or over meals, we'd share stories of our families, how proud we were of them and how difficult it was to be away from them. I know that he was never far from those he loved or they from him. He will always remain close to my heart.

I’ve known Lee for a long time. We crossed paths many times early on as we both wrote and published travel books in the city in which we both reside, Berkeley. But I first remember hearing about him when one of my kids said someone in school had said their father was a travel writer, too, like me. At that time I thought I was the only one in town. Lee was always special fun to sit with during dinner at one of our large professional gatherings. When he was enjoying some wine, he spun tales that we all got so much pleasure from and that often made us laugh. Through the years our paths have crossed throughout the world. I am already missing his friendly face and will always remember him fondly. I am shocked that he has been taken from us so early.
This photo was taken of Lee by me in 2008 at Asilomar in Pacific Grove, California.

Lee Foster was one of the kindest people I've ever known, always perceived and sought the good in people, and encouraged everyone to do what made them happy. He spoke frequently and with love of his sons and grandkids, and of the pain he felt at the loss of his daughter; I've always thought he must have been a wonderful father. I will always be grateful for our friendship and conversation.

Lee was fun, too, always up for an outdoor adventure, and an adept companion on a hiking trail. He inevitably wore his beloved and voluminous red jacket - in which he'd had a tailor construct large inner pockets to cart around gear -- and was a pro at carrying on a conversation from behind a large-lensed SLR or small phone camera. Here he is, with jacket and cameras, on a hike we took in Carmel in spring 2019. I will miss you, my friend.