WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. —  

Foster Devereux, 87, passed away peacefully at home of natural causes on April 29, 2025 in Lake Oswego, OR with his wife Penny by his side.

Born Orin Foster Devereux in 1937 in Bronxville, NY to Frederick Leonard Devereux, Jr. and Ruth Foster Devereux, Foster, as he would prefer to be known, spent his early years in Bronxville and at Kent School in Kent, CT where he built many lifelong friendships. He then attended Williams College in Williamstown, MA, an institution that would be an important part of his life for over 60 years.

He married Penny in 1963, raised his family in Darien, CT and pursued a career in investment banking in New York City, most notably becoming an officer and director of Allen & Company, LLC. Moving to Williamstown in 1992, Foster dedicated himself to establishing neighboring North Adams and the Northern Berkshires as a cultural destination through his efforts as a founding member of the Board of the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA). Foster was active in helping the project overcome early barriers, and was able to see his commitment over many years play a part in the 1999 opening of the museum.

Foster also had a passion for supporting higher education. As a trustee of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) in North Adams, MA for 10 years, he advocated for the school to be recognized as a leading community partner and critical economic engine in Berkshire County. He continued building support for the college as a member of the MCLA Foundation and played a key role in expanding access to student scholarships. He previously served Williams College as chair of the Fairfield County (CT) Alumni Association, where he established a yearly program to bring Williams professors for lectures. Foster also served on the Executive Committee of the Williams Alumni Society and hosted many reunion events as a member of the Class of 1960.

Foster was an extremely generous individual, a loyal friend, a dedicated father and a loving husband. An avid golfer, he was at various times a member at Taconic Golf Club (Williamstown, MA), Riomar Country Club (Vero Beach, FL), Oswego Lake Country Club (Lake Oswego, OR) and a proud member of Royal Dornoch Golf Club (Scotland). In recent years Penny and Foster lived in Vero Beach, FL, where Foster hosted the Williams Golf Team; and the Portland, OR area, where he served on the board of trustees of the Portland Art Museum.

Many will miss his frequent phone calls checking in on business, offering advice and support, or discussing an article that caught his attention in the Times that day.

Foster is survived by his wife of 62 years, Penelope Devereux; his two sons Charles Foster Devereux (Beth Elliot) of Portland, OR and Stephen Frederick Devereux (Laurie Leone) of Minneapolis, MN; and grandchildren Sophia, Liliana, and Gabriel, all of whom he adored. He is also survived by his sister Frances Devereux Schaeffer (Peter) of Amagansett, NY and preceded in death by his brother Frederick Leonard Devereux III.

A memorial for Foster will take place at 10:30 on October 4 at Southlawn Cemetery in Williamstown, MA. If you would like to send a contribution, please consider Minds Matter, an organization that helps low-income high school students who want to attend college prepare academically and apply for financial help; learn more at www.mindsmatter.org. To add to the Book of Memories, please visit flynndagnolifuneralhomes.com.