Ronald Foster

 Ronald Foster was born in Memphis, Tennessee to the parents of Roy B. Foster and the late Lizzie Bell Perry.   At age six he lived in Chicago, Illinois with his mother and two siblings (Rita and Shela).  In 1964, Ron with his two siblings moved from the Windy City to Cleveland, Ohio.   And while attending Glenville High School, students gave Ron the nickname Chicago.  In 1966, he received his high school diploma and matriculated on to several colleges where he achieved various degrees: Associate of Arts from Metro Tri-C, in Cleveland, Ohio, Bachelor of Arts in Urban Planning from University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, Ohio and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, PA. He was a success story as a first generation low-income college student because of the academic and financial challenges along with being faced with the realities of racism.

In 2019, Ron retired from Cuyahoga County as a Fiscal Officer, in the Department of Fiscal & Procurement Services, and worked Part-Time as a Political Science Instructor at Tri-C (Metro).  He enjoyed politics, and watching the news channels, reading the newspapers (the Cleveland Plain Dealer, NY Times and Wall Street Journal).  He broke the glass ceiling, at Cuyahoga County when he was first African American employed as, Assistant Budget Director .  He was a great debater, ran for councilman, and without a law degree won a lot of his court cases.  Ron was the go to person because either he knew how to make things happen or could find the answers. He was an avid fighter for social injustice and his sting was felt.  He was persuasive, charismatic, and able to get the attention of many. 

Ron was raised by, a Christian mother. She taught her children, “the 23rd Psalm,” which he used during his darkest despairs. He wanted others to do better, be better and live a fulfilled life with purpose. And if you are reading this today, maybe you are now more confident, have a better job, got that college degree, or he motivated you to get out of a bad job or relationship. His passing will leave a void in many peoples lives. 

Ron departed this life on Sunday, May 24, 2020 at Crestmont Nursing Home in Lakewood, Ohio.

He leaves to mourn his loving family: Kalci Ryan Foster (daughter), Rita Foster (sister), Shela Perry Williams (sister), Vashon Williams (nephew), Ruby Foster Jackson  (aunt), Edna Foster (aunt) and a host of cousins and friends.  Live streaming of the funeral service will start at 10:30am.

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