Out of the many Americans I have met, Stan is the one who truly made the word “America” or “American” seem compassionate and tender to me. Stan is the first person to show me that people can be greater than themselves and their attributes. He is the perfect epitome of this beautiful fact. He never saw his work beyond his faith. For me, his job and his works were always a part of his activism. Always part of the purpose for a greater good. He was never directly my teacher. However, the opportunity of being enlightened by him on numerous issues, despite not being that closely connected to him and knowing him for only limited amount of time, is no less.
In 2009, my friends arranged a photography exhibition for me at Emory University. Stan sent letters to the officials to confirm my exhibition and me attending it. I had first met him in his office room. Entering the room, the first thing that caught my attention were two posters written in my mother tongue, Bengali. They comprised of the words, “Vaccinate your baby” and “Get a prize of 250 taka with the news of Small Pox here.” Being so far away from my country and seeing posters from my country in Stan’s office made me feel connected to Stan’s benevolence. A man who had travelled to so many countries all over the world, to provide his services to health care. He did not do his work only for his sense of responsibility, but right from the core of his heart too. A heart filled with kindness and love. And that is why even after 35 years he still had the health-care posters as tokens from my country. My interaction with Stan gave me the impression that he does hold not only America, but the whole world. Wherever he went, he was a true Samaritan to everyone. A global man!
Stan’s students know very well how he mentored them. But such an important person like Stan made time out of his schedule to take me, a person almost unknown to him at that time, to see the historical Tutankhamun Exhibition. He also drove me to his house, two hours away. One of the rooms in Stan and Dorothy’s house was Asian themed with all the interior designs and belongings from Asia. Stan made arrangements for me to stay in that room. In the evening, Stan asked me if he could take me to see a waterfall. Stan led the way through the jungle, and I followed, enjoying one of the most beautiful moments ever. Stan’s gentle voice said that bears used to come at that place often. I quickly made my way to Stan’s side after that information. I was relishing the breathtakingly, picturesque scenery around me and listening to Stan’s stories. As we were starting to return, Stan asked me if I wanted to take pictures of the waterfall. I did not want to take the waterfall’s picture but of Stan’s rare company. But seeing his enthusiasm I took pictures of the waterfall using slow shutter. He told me to go closer to the waterfall and while I stepped on the slippery rocks, I thought, life is significantly beautiful when you are in a wonderful place amidst nature with people like Stanley O Foster as your company.
To my surprise the next day, after church, Stan orchestrated my second photography exhibition. He arranged the sale of the pictures and we both wanted to give the money to women deprived of their rights, as charity. I shared this particular small piece of information as a tribute to his memory. How a work-crazy person gave intensive time to someone of his knee’s age. He took every aspect of his life seriously and with great care. In this matter, Stan was different than everyone else, even if he didn’t want to be. He was truly unique.
In 2010, Stan came to Bangladesh again for his work. Between his work times, he, along with me, tried to find out the disenfranchised children’s homes, where he went several times before, and had helped some of the children in the process of adaptation by the families around the world. He went to many homes to distribute stationaries to the kids. When I heard for the first time that Stan had many children, I was quite surprised. Later I learned that most of them were adopted. I was mesmerized. What a great couple he and Dorothy were! They spent their life in such a colorful way with their children! His whole life he had worked for people and cared for them immensely, sometimes as workers, sometimes as leaders, as researchers, as teachers and even as a father.
Dear Stan, you have not lamented. You will always be alive through yourself, through your students and your every beloved one, through everyone’s love for you and through your works for humanity. For me, you are larger than life!
Jannatul Mawa
Photographer and Social Activist
Faculty, Pathshala South Asian Media Institute, Dhaka, Bangladesh