Mary Win Brown Foss

MARY WINIFRED BROWN FOSS

FRANCONIA, NH -- Mary Winifred Brown Foss (Mary Win to her friends) passed away early Tuesday evening, July 12th, at her home in Franconia, NH after a long illness. She was 90 years old, and was predeceased by her husband of fifty-seven years, Eugene, who passed away in November, 1995. She leaves three sons: George Foss of Bethlehem, Paul Foss of Franconia, and Lyman Foss of Manchester, Vermont; and five grandchildren, Eleanor Foss Shanbhag of London, UK, Charlotte Foss of Fiuggi, Italy, Gardner Foss of Manchester, VT, John Foss and Alexander Foss, both of Franconia.

Mrs. Foss grew up as an only-child in Buffalo, NY and Washington, DC, and spent her summers at "Westfield" in Sugar Hill, her mother's home. She especially enjoyed horseback riding as a girl, and the company of her two Cocker Spaniels, "Jockey" and "Jo-Jo". She was a graduate of Pine Manor College. She was married in Sugar Hill to Eugene Noble Foss II on September 17, 1938, on the weekend before the devastating hurricane of 1938; the couple honeymooned in Quebec City, and were said to be unaware of the storm.

The new Mrs. Foss first made her home in Washington, DC where Mr. Foss worked for the BF Surtevant Company office there. He was later transferred back to the company headquarters in Hyde Park, Massachusetts, where the couple lived in Dedham. In 1941, Mr. Foss was activated by the United States Navy and was ordered to Wiscasset, Maine for the outfitting and launching of the new Destroyer USS Emmons. He was a plankowner of this ship, and eventually rose to command in late 1944. Meanwhile, their home had moved again, to Chestnut Hill, Mass.

After the war, Mr. Foss returned to his company, which had been merged with Westinghouse in 1943. The company transferred him to head up its Chicago office in late 1946, and the family moved again, to Winnetka, Illinois, where it stayed for nine years. In 1955, he was transferred back to the main office in Hyde Park, MA, and the family moved back to Dedham. In 1961, Mr. Foss retired, and the couple moved to Sugar Hill, where they renovated the former "Roger Eastman Farm" which they re-named "Post Road Farm."
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Mary Win Foss began her professional career as a real estate broker in 1963, when she received a New Hampshire Broker's License and founded Post Road Realty, which she operated alone for the next nine years from her home at the corner of Old Post and Pearl Lake Roads in Sugar Hill. The business of her company was brokerage and rentals from Bath to Franconia, and from Easton to Lancaster. In 1972, the business was incorporated; that same year, she became a Charter Member of the North Country Board of Realtors. She maintained her license until 1990, and always held an intense interest in real estate and in finding appropriate properties for customers.

In their retirement years, Mary Win and Eugene maintained winter homes in Sarasota, and later Jacksonville, Florida; also, they sold Post Road Farm in Sugar Hill, and purchased and renovated "Ridge Farm" in Franconia in 1984. The couple especially enjoyed fly fishing for trout and salmon; Mary Win was a quite accomplished fisherwoman. Her last home was at Dow Academy in Franconia, where she has lived since 1997.

She was a member and past-president of the White Mountain Garden Club, a member of the Junior League of Chicago and Boston, a member of The Vincent Club, a supporter of the Vincent Memorial Hospital, Boston, a member of the Art Institute of Chicago, and Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. She was also a member of The Colonial Dames and the Daughters of the American Revolution, as well as a member of The Country Club, the Chilton Club, and The Dedham Country & Polo Club. More locally, she was a long member of The Willing Workers and of The Friends in Council. She was a member of The Profile Club for more than 60 years; she was a passionate golfer.


SERVICES -- There will be a Memorial Service for Mary Win Foss at the Church of the Epiphany in Lisbon, New Hampshire at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 21st with Rev. Todd Hall officiating.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her memory to the Cardio-Rehab Unit at the Littleton Regional Hospital, 600 St. Johnsbury Road, Littleton, NH 03561.

Arrangements and care have been entrusted to The Pillsbury Funeral Homes and Cremation Service, Inc. To view an online memorial or to send a message of condolence, please visit www.pillsburyfh.com.