Passed away suddenly and most unexpectedly December 18, 2019. Bill was born in the old, old St. Joe hospital on Ingalls Street, raised in a house still standing at East University and Prospect. A quintessential townie; doing stints at Washtenaw Dairy, Drakes Sandwich Shop, WAAM Radio, U of M Center for Research-Language and Language Behavior, the U of M School of Music and the U of M Institute for Social Research. His love of theater came unexpectedly one evening in 1959 when he attended a tryout at the Ann Arbor Civic Theater and was awarded the newsboy role in “Streetcar Named Desire.” Some forty years and seventy principle roles later and a MA in theater from U of M, his passion for theater held strong. His love of the Great Lakes came from his first dramatic view of Lake Michigan and could often be heard saying “I could live forever with Lake Michigan in my eyes.” Loved and admired by many, many friends including co-workers. Predeceased by his parents, Foster Sr. and Esther Cross; and his brother, Foster Jr. (Monte). We will miss him dearly—his wish was to leave behind a life that was of worth and pleasant to recall—and that is just the memory he leaves.

A memorial gathering will take place on Sunday, February 9, 2020 at 10am until the time of the memorial service at 11am at Nie Family Funeral Home; 3767 W. Liberty Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48103.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Humane Society of Huron Valley; 3100 Cherry Hill Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48105 or The Family Learning Institute; 1954 S Industrial Hwy Suite D, Ann Arbor, MI 48104.