Local News
Kevin Foster is being remembered for his “generosity, laughter, and enormous heart.”
A Cambridge man died after being pulled from the the waters off Martha’s Vineyard last week, officials said. He was identified as 55-year-old Kevin Foster, according to the Cape & Islands District Attorney’s Office. Kevin Foster and his two sons. – Marjorie Decker / GoFundMeFirst responders were called to Long Point Wildlife Refuge in West Tisbury last Friday at about 3:47 p.m. for a “swimming incident,” local officials said. Police, firefighters, and ambulance personnel were joined by staff from the Trustees of Reservations, which owns the land. Three lifeguards from nearby South Beach also responded on ATVs. Multiple people were struggling in the water, officials said. The lifeguards entered the ocean, bringing the distressed swimmers to shore with the help of the other first responders. Crews worked to immediately provide treatment. One man was transported to Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, officials said. He was later identified as Foster. Foster was married with two sons. “He passed away on July 31st, swimming in the waters off of Martha’s Vineyard, a place he loved, among people he loved, and who loved him,” his wife, Nadia Foster, wrote in a short online post. State Rep. Marjorie Decker, who represents Cambridge, is a lifelong friend of Nadia Foster and considered Kevin Foster part of her family. “He was like a brother to me, an uncle to my children, another son to my mother, and above all, an extraordinary husband, devoted father, and cherished friend,” Decker wrote in a social media post. Decker said that introducing the Fosters to one another was one of the “greatest honors” of her life. She praised Kevin Foster’s “kindness, integrity, and compassion” and noted that he helped preserve affordable housing by serving on the Cambridge Community Preservation Act Committee. Decker helped create a GoFundMe online fundraiser for the family. It has raised more than $74,000. “To know the Fosters is to know what community truly means. They have spent their lives opening their home and hearts to others, making everyone feel welcome, valued, and loved. The love surrounding them now is a reflection of the countless lives they touched,” Decker wrote. Long Point is situated on the southern edge of Martha’s Vineyard. There are no lifeguards on duty there, and officials warn that swimming can be “hazardous due to rough surf and undertows.”The Trustees closed the beaches at Long Point on Saturday and Sunday, citing “a tragic incident.” Reservations were refunded. “We recognize that many of you planned to spend time at the beach today, and we appreciate your understanding as we navigate these circumstances with care and respect,” the Trustees wrote in a social media post over the weekend. Foster’s memory will live on, Decker wrote. “Kevin made our family and our community better simply by being in it. His generosity, laughter, and enormous heart left an imprint on everyone he met,” she wrote.
Ross CristantielloStaff Writer
Ross Cristantiello, a general assignment news reporter for Boston.com since 2022, covers local politics, crime, the environment, and more.
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