Paul William Foos

Paul William Foos, 74, of Charlotte, NC, died Monday, October 26, 2020 of lung cancer at his home with his son and wife by his side.

Paul was born in Fremont, OH, to the late Clarence and Norma (Halm) Foos. He received a BA, MS, and PHD in Psychology from Bowling Green State University in OH. Paul was a professor of Psychology at Florida International University and UNC Charlotte where he retired. His UNCC colleagues were a gift.

Paul had a distinguished academic career serving as faculty and department chair at both FIU and UNCC.  He published many scholarly articles in respected journals and three books on cognitive psychology and aging.  He was an avid gardener (he spent hours discussing gardening with his son and best bud Roger Baumgarte) and environmental and animal rights activist. He liked animals better than people; don’t mess with his kitties, Bu and Gary.  Consistent with this, he vastly preferred the many camping trips in the woods with family and friends to the vacations in crowded cities.  The one exception being his love for exploring new breweries or revisiting familiar ones with his two favorite drinking buddies: his wife, Cherie, and son, Arlo.  They were a family that did everything in synch, including each having a Ph.D.in Psychology, teaching at a university, and actively involved in research.  He had a sharp wit, wicked sense of humor, and was often a goofball.  He claimed that he was the number one Olsen player, but the committee is reviewing this claim.  He was ready with advice for everyone whether they wanted it or not.  He was an excellent wood carver often saying, “I don’t make anything useful.”  But he did make some really cool creatures.  He never considered himself an artist but the evidence was definitely to the contrary, even starting a series of Potato Girl comics for his granddaughter Gaia.

Surviving Paul is his loving wife of 43 years, M Cherie Clark; and son, Arlo Clark-Foos (Rachel) of Dearborn, MI; sister, Phyllis Foos (Jim Hatch) of Toledo, OH; brother, Tom Foos (Barbara) of Millbury, OH; loving step mother, Joan Foos of Fremont, OH; granddaughter, Gaia Clark-Foos of Dearborn, MI; step grandchildren, Lucian Schockey and Jackson Schokey of Dearborn, MI; his adoring adorable (she made us say this) sister-in-law, Jeanne Clark (Tim Sullivan) of Pittsburgh, PA; brother-in-law, Pat Clark (Jeanne Clark) of Houston, TX; and many loving nieces and nephews.

A private graveside gathering will take place at Carolina Memorial Sanctuary, a conservation and green cemetery in Mills River, NC.  He will hang out between two maple trees and a sumac grove nearby.  Memorials can be made to ASPCA, Democratic Candidates, or to an organization of the donor’s choice.

Arlo and Cherie are so grateful for the support from family, good friends, the folks at Levine Cancer Institute (especially Carlie Barnett), Hospice and Palliative Care Charlotte Region, and the folks at Carolina Memorial Sanctuary. Raise a pint of good beer in Paul’s name!

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