Foster C. Kneeland, 97 February 28, 1926 - September 26, 2023

HAVERHILL – Foster C. Kneeland, 97, of Boynton Beach FL, formally of Haverhill, passed away peacefully on Tuesday September 26 in Delray Beach, FL.

Born on February 28, 1926 in Haverhill to Foster (Spot) and Ethel (Beal) Kneeland.  Foster was one of the “Greatest Generation” serving proudly in the US Navy in WWII, during which he married his wife of 65 years Eleanor in 1948. Foster received his education in Mechanical Engineering from Northeastern University and was involved in the microwave industry since 1952. He was responsible for the design and testing of aircraft antennas for ECM equipment, and also owns three U.S. patents.  Foster owned and operated Haverhill Cable and Manufacturing for 40 years where he worked with his wife Ellie and their four children. Foster also founded Kneeland’s Bay Marina in Quincy in the 1960s where he spent summers working with his parents, children and brothers. Along with work, Foster was involved in many community groups and activities. He was director of and refereed for the Haverhill YMCA Jr. Football League in the 1960s for over a decade. He served on the Haverhill Planning Board in the 1970s, was a former Exalted Ruler and member of the Haverhill Lodge of Elks for twenty years. Foster was member of Haverhill Golf and Country Club for forty years; he had a true love of golf and two holes in one. Foster was an avid boater and fisherman in both Massachusetts and Florida. He earned his Captains license in Florida in 2003, his favorite was “Fishin Papa IV”, a 34 ft Cabo Express.

Foster is survived by his daughters Sandra and her husband Hugh (Chuck) Casey, of Boynton Beach, FL and Susan and her husband John Rumore, of Atkinson, NH. He also leaves behind his grandchildren Joshua Kneeland and his children Olivia and Liam, of Byfield, Kate Kneeland and her children Ella, Ruby, Lucy, and Stanley, of Bradford, Erin (Casey) and her husband Michael Mulvaney and children Quinn, Reece, Casey and Blake of Wesley Chapel FL; Charles (CJ) Casey, of Tampa, FL; Sarah (Rumore) and her husband Jeffrey Fumia and children Avery and Tanner; Amanda (Rumore) and her husband Chris Doherty and children Emmet, Eleanor and Charles, of Marshfield; Jay Rumore and his children John, Marissa and Michael, of Pelham, NH; and Jeffrey Rumore of Burlington, VT. He also leaves behind a sister Florence McNeilly, of Kingston, MA and his in laws Erlene Dozibrin, of Hampton, NH, George Cantwell, of Hamilton, MA, Robert and Catherine Cantwell, of Haverhill, MA and Patricia Ross, of Haverhill; and several nieces and nephews.

Foster is predeceased by his wife of 65 years Eleanor F. (Cantwell) Kneeland and his sons David M. Kneeland, Francis C. Kneeland and Thomas C. and his wife Michaelyn Kneeland. He is also predeceased by his parents Foster (Spot) and Ethel (Beal) Kneeland and brothers Russell Kneeland, Donald Kneeland and Ronald St. Pierre.

ARRANGEMENTS:  Family and friends are invited to calling hours on Tuesday, October 3    from 9:30AM until 11:30AM at the Kevin B. Comeau Funeral Home, 486 Main Street, Haverhill.  A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Tuesday, October 3 at 12PM at St. James Church, 185 Winter Street, Haverhill.  Burial will follow at St. James Cemetery, 360 Primrose Street, Haverhill. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Haverhill, 55 Emerson Street, Haverhill, MA 01830. Please visit Comeau Funeral Home on Facebook or www.comeaufuneral.com