Clifford McClain Foust
August 14, 1928 – June 20, 2021
Cliff died on Father’s Day, Sunday June 20, 2021 after a short illness. Cliff was born in Schenectady, NY to Emma Gertrude Karch and Clifford McClain Foust, Sr. and grew up in upstate NY. In 1945 he graduated high school from Delanson Union Free School and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University, a master’s and doctorate degrees in history from the University of Chicago. Cliff began his teaching career at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. He married Roslyn Hinkelman in 1953 and they had three daughters, Amy, Emily and Polly. In 1970 the family moved to Bethesda, MD and he began teaching at the University of Maryland. In 1984 Cliff married Juanita Shold Heizer. Cliff and Juanita traveled extensively worldwide and in 1995 they retired to Fairhaven, MD on his beloved Chesapeake Bay after 35+ years at the two central state universities. Cliff published numerous articles in academic journals and wrote four books, three of which were published, completing the last one while in his 80’s.
Cliff is survived by Juanita, his wife of 37 years, his sister, Ellen Foust Dodson, his extended family of Amy (Skip) Whyte, Emily (Keith) Manders Mayes, Polly (Mike) Johnson, Julie (Larry) Heizer Wells and John (Karen) Heizer, 9 grand children and 5 great-grandchildren. He is predeceased by his first wife, Ros and his grandson Jason.
Visitation
Services
- Private
No Services Available
Interment
Contributions
Hospice of the Chesapeake
90 Ritchie Highway
Pasadena, MD 21122
443-837-3385
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26 Jun 2021
11:02am
Such a sad loss for our little community here in Fairhaven. Cliff was a class act and a true gentleman. I introduced him to my dad on his last trip here, and they hit it off immediately as two retired history professors would. He will be sorely missed…
City
Fairhaven
State
MD
1 Jul 2021
5:27pm
Sending deepest sympathy to Juanita, cousins Amy, Emily and Polly and your families on the passing of Uncle Cliff. I will always fondly remember our family visits in Chapel Hill and Bethesda, and feel especially fortunate to have reconnected a few years ago. May happy memories of Uncle Cliff bring comfort to you all.
City
Edmonton
State
Alberta, Canada
9 Jul 2021
1:34pm
Rose and I extend our deepest sympathies to Jaunita and my cousins Amy, Emily and Polly and all of Uncle Cliff’s grandchildren. We always enjoyed visiting with Uncle Cliff and as a child I really enjoyed his tales of travel to Russia. His smiling face will endure forever in our memories.
Dave and Rosanne Crompton
City
ANN ARBOR
State
MI
16 Jul 2021
10:30am
Cliff was my Ph.D. advisor and more than a mentor. I shall miss him. My condolences to Juanita and all his family.
City
Lexington
State
VA
12 Dec 2021
4:58pm
Only just now did I learn of his passing. Though he directed no project of mine at the History Department of the University of Maryland, while he was Assistant Chair, he acted as kind of a mentor and advisor. His advice and recommendations were always solid and constructive. The world is diminished without his presence.
City
winchester
State
VA
28 Jun 2024
2:14pm
Came across this very sad news today. I have great memories of working with Cliff over many years on matters of Russian railways and John F Stevens. His kindness extended to accompanying me from DC on my first trip – as a very trepidatious foreigner – to New York City for some work in Columbia University’s archives back in 1996, and delivering me to BWI for my flight home. I shall never forget our brunch at a place near the old railway station – I had never seen anything like it, nor since! Hope it’s still going. Happy days and cherished memories. Rest in peace.
City
Aberdeen
State
Scotland
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Such a sad loss for our little community here in Fairhaven. Cliff was a class act and a true gentleman. I introduced him to my dad on his last trip here, and they hit it off immediately as two retired history professors would. He will be sorely missed…
Sending deepest sympathy to Juanita, cousins Amy, Emily and Polly and your families on the passing of Uncle Cliff. I will always fondly remember our family visits in Chapel Hill and Bethesda, and feel especially fortunate to have reconnected a few years ago. May happy memories of Uncle Cliff bring comfort to you all.
Rose and I extend our deepest sympathies to Jaunita and my cousins Amy, Emily and Polly and all of Uncle Cliff’s grandchildren. We always enjoyed visiting with Uncle Cliff and as a child I really enjoyed his tales of travel to Russia. His smiling face will endure forever in our memories.
Dave and Rosanne Crompton
Cliff was my Ph.D. advisor and more than a mentor. I shall miss him. My condolences to Juanita and all his family.
Only just now did I learn of his passing. Though he directed no project of mine at the History Department of the University of Maryland, while he was Assistant Chair, he acted as kind of a mentor and advisor. His advice and recommendations were always solid and constructive. The world is diminished without his presence.
Came across this very sad news today. I have great memories of working with Cliff over many years on matters of Russian railways and John F Stevens. His kindness extended to accompanying me from DC on my first trip – as a very trepidatious foreigner – to New York City for some work in Columbia University’s archives back in 1996, and delivering me to BWI for my flight home. I shall never forget our brunch at a place near the old railway station – I had never seen anything like it, nor since! Hope it’s still going. Happy days and cherished memories. Rest in peace.