Dean Foster, 69, passed away suddenly Wednesday, April 6, 2016 of a heart attack. He was born on January 1, 1947 in Elkhart Indiana to Jean (Elliot-Wear) and Charles Foster. Dean grew up in Elkhart and had fond memories of family, friends, driveway basketball, and boating on the Elkhart River. He graduated from Elkhart High School in 1964, where he played multiple sports but excelled in the game of basketball. He went on to play for the University of Cincinnati, where he graduated in 1968 with a Degree in Education as a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity. He later received his Master's in Education from Indiana University, South Bend. He was united in marriage to Kathleen A DeGroff on October 7, 1972 in Cincinnati, OH. They resided there for two years before moving to Indiana. His 37 year head coaching career spanned seven schools and accumulated more than 400 wins between Ohio and Indiana, including sectional, regional and semi-state championships. His hobbies included attending his grandchildren's many activities, visiting Lake Michigan with his wife, and watching sports of all kinds, anytime, anywhere, and in any type of weather. He is survived by his wife Kathi, and his children, Christopher (Rebecca) DeGroff of Chicago IL, Sarah (Jim) Pinter of New Carlisle, IN, and Emily (Ben) Burlingham of Bloomington, IN, and his 14 grandchildren. He is also survived by Brother Dennis Foster of Arizona, Sister Carol (Foster) Swartz of Elkhart, and step-sisters Bobbe (John) Erickson of Elkhart and Sue (Wayne) Snyder of Florida. He is survived by many cousins, nieces, and nephews with whom he was very close. He was preceded in death by his parents Charles and Jean Foster (Elliot-Wear). Family will receive friends from 1:00-3:00pm, Wednesday, April 13, 2016 at Trinity United Methodist Church in Elkhart. The funeral service will follow at 3:00pm, at Trinity with Pastor Tim Burchill officiating. Burial will follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens. Hartzler-Gutermuth-Inman is assisting with arrangements. In his memory, donations may be given to the IU HD Center of Excellence, (checks may be mailed to) IU office of Research Administration Dept. 78867 P.O. Box 78000 Detroit, Michigan 48278-0867 or to the Elkhart Schools C.O.A.C.H. Scholarship 2720 California Road Elkhart, IN 46514, ATTN: Dr. Robert Woods. The family would like to thank the local and Cincinnati sports writers for all of their well written articles, the EMT's, and the medical staff of Memorial Hospital of South Bend.