Walter Foster

2002 Special Award of Recognition

Walter Foster is the 2002 recipient of a “Special Award of Recognition” for his many years of involvement in aquatics.  A graduate of LaSalle Academy, Walter competed as a member of the 1935-1936 swimming team.  Walter later returned to aquatics as a swimming instructor and swimming coach.

Walter spent many years as a Red Cross volunteer, including ten years as a staff member for the Water Safety Instructor course, which was taught at Brown University.  He also served on the staff of the National Aquatic School at Camp Tevya.

From 1959 to 1971, Walter teamed with Leo Sarcione to coach the Rhode Island Aquatic Club, one of the areas best swimming clubs at it’s time.  In his coaching capacity, Walter is credited with the development of many of Rhode Island’s best swimmers, including Rhode Island Aquatic Hall of Fame inductees Robert Corris, Donna Spencer, and Newell Roberts.

Walter’s love of swimming led to the construction of his own pool at his Glocester home in which he taught swimming and lifesaving to both young and old.  Harold Anderson has described him as an outstanding water safety instructor, who not only loved to teach all ages to swim and be lifesavers but because he simply loved helping others.