Foster Meredith Trainer H 1919, HK 1950 (1895-1976)
Foster was a graduate of the class of 1919 and was very involved in many undergraduate activities as well as taking time off to serve in World War I.
From the 1919 Class Album:
The Kroks met Foster in December of 1948 during their earliest days through his daughter, Mary “Bootsie”, who dated Fred Gwynn. Foster was also a member of the Hasty Pudding Club, so they may have met there as well. While he went into the brokerage business after college, he remained a musician at heart throughout his life and was notorious for having a piano in the stern of his boat so he could enjoy playing and singing while at sea!
The Harvard Crimson, From the Pit – The Kroks’ prize arrangements come from Mr. Foster Trainer
He was enormously helpful to the Kroks and arranged five of the eleven numbers on their first album in 1949: Big Chief Battle Axe (with Fred Gwynne on the solo), Bye Bye Blackbird, A Harvard Man, So Long Oolong, and Winter Nights. Two of these songs made it onto the 1952 album and one even made it to the 1956 album.
The Krokodiloes of 1950 made him an Honorary Krok in honor of all that had done for the group. This was officially recognized at the first major banquet of the Kroks, the 15th, in 1962 which he attended.
Foster will always be remembered by the Kroks as an exceptionally musical man who was there during our founding days.
From the recollections of Frank Cabot, Peter Hewitt, Jack Kiggen, Jim Paul and Asa Trainer
Obituary:
Duxbury Clipper
A memorial service was held January 4 in the Church of St. John the Evangelist for Foster M. Trainer, 81, of King Caesar Rd., who died on December 29th in a Plymouth nursing home.
Mr. Trainer was born in Boston, attended Milton Academy and graduated from Harvard College in 1919.
He served in the Army with the 26th Division in World War I. He was founder and partner of Preston, Moss & Co., a Boston brokerage firm.
He was also the founder of the Bond Club of Boston and held memberships in The Country Club of Brookline, the Harvard Club of Boston and the Duxbury Yacht Club.
Since his undergraduate days at Harvard, where he was a member of the Hasty Pudding Club, Mr. Trainer had a great interest in music. The piano was his instrument, and he wrote the music for several amateur musical comedies.
He leaves his wife, Anna Mary (Vance); a son, Foster M. Trainer Jr. of Dedham; 4 daugther, Mr.s Priscilla Barber of Duxbury, Mrs. Jean Veach of Asheville, N.C., Mrs. Mary Crothers of Dover and Mrs. Sally Windle of Brookline; 20 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.