Charles Foster Knight

Charles "Foster" Knight, a beloved husband, father, and grandfather, died on October 18, 2025, following a brief battle with brain cancer.

Born on August 8, 1940, in Baker, Oregon, Foster was the son of Edward Tucker Knight and Mary "Mollie" Knight (Foster). His father's work as a mining engineer took the family to various towns across Mexico during his early years - an experience that gave him fluency in Spanish and a lifelong appreciation for Mexican culture. He attended schools in the US and Canada before entering Yale University in 1958. After graduating in 1962, he served three years in the U.S. Navy as a Lieutenant Junior Grade, then earned his law degree from the University of California, Berkeley in 1968.

Foster married Kathryn (Kathy) Scott in 1967, and the following year they set out to drive their VW Beetle from Berkeley to Costa Rica. There, he taught and lectured in Law and Economic Development at the University of Costa Rica School of Law. His early work in the California Attorney General's Office Environmental Law Unit made him a pioneer in the emerging field of environmental law. He went on to serve in Washington D.C. under President Jimmy Carter at the Council on Environmental Quality and later worked at the Environmental Protection Agency.

In the 1980s, Foster joined the law department of Digital Equipment Corporation and relocated with his family to Winchester, Massachusetts, where they lived for more than two decades. Toward the end of his career, he brought his expertise to environmental management consulting throughout Latin America, particularly in Mexico and Peru.

A passionate sailor, Foster kept a sailboat in Rockland, Maine, for many years. He and Kathy retired to Bristol, RI where they could watch the sailboats in Narragansett Bay. In 2013, he fulfilled his lifelong dream of returning to live in Mexico, settling first in Mérida and later in Ajijic, on the shores of Lake Chapala. There he enjoyed reading, mariachi music, and snuggling with his two Chihuahuas, Guadalupe and Mimosa.

Foster is survived by his wife of 58 years, Kathy; his daughters Alexa of Kingston, NY, and Jessica (Tim) Hansen of Guilford, CT; his grandsons Alex and Caleb Hansen; and his sister Sarah Erlij of Brooklyn, NY. He was predeceased by his brother, Stephen Knight, earlier this year. He also leaves behind many cherished friends, especially Javier Isais, un "amigo de buena madera."

He will be remembered for his thoughtful intellect, humble wisdom, and warm humor. A private memorial will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to a pet rescue organization of your choice.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Charles Foster Knight, please visit our flower store.