Steven Dale Foster was born in Portland, Maine, on Feb. 27, 1957, one of five children of Herbert and Hope Foster. He died unexpectedly in his home in Eureka Springs on Jan. 16, 2022.
Steven spent his life magnificently. He committed to the study and photography of herbs as a teenage apprentice at the Sabbathday Lake Shaker community. By the time of his death, his library consisted of hundreds of books on herbs, many first editions; he had written 19 books about herbs (including being senior author of three Peterson Field Guides); had sold hundreds of articles to national magazines about herbs; and licensed thousands of herb photographs. His 101 Medicinal Herbs was a bestseller in its genre throughout Walmart stores in 1998. Tom’s of Maine licensed his photographs for their toothpaste boxes.
He and a couple of colleagues he was attending a Minneapolis herb conference with were walking back to their hotel one evening in the mid-1990s. They’d been to the bar and were ready to call it a night. A man on the street approached them asking if they wanted a dime bag of pot. The men pooled their cash and did the deal. When they got to their hotel, they realized they’d just spent $100 on a bag of oregano.
“Don’t tell anyone that until after I’m gone,” he said. “I don’t care if anyone knows I smoke but I sure care that they know I didn’t identify what we bought.”
Steven moved to Eureka Springs in 1988, where he spent his time writing, taking pictures, and guiding medicinal plant walks. He was a Parks commissioner. He never went to college and never rode a bicycle.
Steven is survived by his wife, Donna, of the home; son Colin and wife, Kristen, and their daughters, Zeda and Yara; daughter Abbey; stepson Farar Rose (Carmen) and their children, Daniel and Samuel; Donna’s children Ashley (Jeremiah) Smith and their children Judah and Gabriel; Ally (Chris) Hicks and their children Isaac and Emelia; and Andy and Fallon Curry. Steven truly loved being with his all his grandchildren.
He is also survived by two brothers and two sisters, Stan (Betty) Foster, Wendy (Dennis) Russell, Don (Joanna) Foster, and Sue (Mike) Kennedy; and former wife, Jude Farar.
Steven once said the whole point of Facebook was the number of friends you had. He had 936 in the first two days in 2008. He also had real friends – no one knows how many, but we can all honestly claim him.
I am so sorry for the passing of Steven He was a wonderful person. Always very pleasant and kind to everyone and so smart! He surely will be missed by anyone who had the pleasure of knowing him.
Steve and I, in our formative years, were as close as imaginable; ‘brothers’ as it were for a time. I have memories and recollection to serve me the rest of my days and will call on them often…We are hoping, perhaps a little unreasonably, that the time that his family spent with him and the memories that they share, will carry them through a most difficult part of life. For now and at this moment, our hearts are truly broken for you, though…please know that we are there, with you all, in spirit
I’m so sorry to hear of Steven’s passing!! He was my hero naturalist! My condolences to his family. Steven was a true gift of Greely HS.
Condolences to his family always love his photos he posted on fb
What an awesome life he had! I’m so sorry for your loss! Sending love to you all!
So sorry to hear.
So sad. Condolences to the family. I always loved his columns and will miss him weekly.
I didn’t know Steven that long, but the times Mark and I spent with him were very pleasing. what a gentle giant his was and fun to be around. he will be missed by all.