Foster Quarll Doan

Doan—Foster Quarll Doan, 93, suddenly, on May 11, 2024, in Drums, Pa. Foster was born on June 23, 1930, to Roland and Kipp Foster Doan in Danville, Pa. He graduated from Berwick High School in 1948 and Lafayette College in 1952.

Foster and Elizabeth (Betsy) Leisenring married, and he enrolled in Princeton Theological Seminary in 1952. He was ordained as a Presbyterian minister in 1955. Foster spent a year at Harvard Divinity School in Cambridge, Mass., where he was taught by Paul Tillich and Harvey Cox.

After Harvard, Foster recognized a stronger leading to teach than to preach. He took a position as chaplain and chair of the Religion Department at Blair Academy in Blairstown, N.J. At Blair, he invited speakers who reflected his growing commitment to civil rights and social justice, including some who were members of the Religious Society of Friends. Foster was invited to join the Board of the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS).

Over time, Foster’s passion for social justice issues outgrew the conservatism of Blair. He was forbidden by its headmaster to take students to a rally organized by Martin Luther King Jr. Following that incident, Foster asked Earl Harrison, then head of Westtown School, if Foster was teaching at Westtown would he be permitted to take a van of students to a civil rights rally. Earl answered, “No. We would need two vans. You would drive one, and I would drive the other.” Subsequently, Foster became chair of the Religion Department at Westtown from 1969 to 1991.

Foster and Betsy joined Westtown Meeting in West Chester, Pa., in 1970. In addition to teaching Quakerism, Bible, Christian ethics, and human sexuality, he was a beloved teacher and mentor to many students and faculty members. In the 1970s, he was an early supporter of gay rights within Philadelphia Yearly Meeting (PYM) and later volunteered as a driver delivering meals to people living with HIV/AIDS. He coordinated service opportunities for students in the Westtown area as well as weekend workcamps in West Philadelphia. He and Betsy co-led a workcamp at Ramallah Friends School in the West Bank during the summer of 1991, which helped to establish close connections among Quaker schools.

In 1991, he began work to help Quaker schools deepen their curricula to reflect Friends values and principles through PYM’s Committee on Education. Foster finished his teaching career at Friends Select in Philadelphia. In 2000, Foster and Betsy retired to Drums, Pa., transferring their membership to Millville (Pa.) Meeting. He served on the Board of Trustees at Greenwood Friends School for several years.

Foster was devoted to his family and dear friends with whom he shared many conversations and laughter.  He made friends with everyone he encountered from all walks of life. Foster enjoyed listening to classical music. He loved gardening. His gardens were meticulously planned and brought joy to people who visited. Foster was a strong voice for social justice; he spoke lovingly to those with whom he disagreed, especially in the face of bigotry and discrimination.

Foster is survived by his wife, Betsy Doan; their three children, Andy Doan (Cecelia Traugh), John Doan (Libby), and Petra Doan (Liz Kamphausen-Doan); four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; one sister, Mary Lee; and numerous nieces and nephews.