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Nick Foster

September 18, 1969 - September 10, 2020

A talented and special Leicester lad, who crossed the Atlantic and broke new ground in animation software. Brilliant and Funny. Loved by All. Please share your memories and photos of our dear friend to help us build a picture to remember with fondness. The details you can provide will be used to elaborate this section. Thank you so much for sharing your photos and thoughts.

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  • 2022-09-01 06:13:27 View / Comment (0)
    Ana Martinez

    Ana Martinez

    Ana Martinez

    I met Nick while we were both living in Los Angeles in the early 2000s. Then he moved away to New York and later the Bay Area and we stayed in touch over the years. I remember fondly the great meals we had together in Los Angeles, especially in the San Gabriel Valley, hanging out at his house in Glassell Park. Then somehow we met up for brunch in NY and dinner in SF and these are joyous memories. Nick was brilliant and enormously funny. I miss him. Bryan and I traveled to Pacifica, CA to see him and Yuchieh several times while he was sick. Even when he was not feeling great, his sense of humor, his intelligence were intact. What a huge loss, I so wish he were here with us.

  • 2021-06-04 03:04:17 View / Comment (0)
    Suejung Huh

    Suejung Huh

    Suejung Huh

    I met Nick at HMS Graphics Lab in University of Pennsylvania. Before his graduation, he has achieved so much already, and was an envy of others. After he joined PDI ( DreamWorks Animation now), he had worked on Water simulation for the movie Antz. When I saw the movie at theatre, and the moment the dark cave wall broke down with the flood of water, it felt like I just saw Nick at the screen. When he received the Oscar, we were amazed, but somewhat felt like something we have already expected of him. The conversation with Nick had been always interesting. On the flight after the visit to him and Yuchieh before he left for NC, I realize he is just an un-replaceable friend to me. The lone journey of our lives on Earth, he has been a great friend and a fellow human being to me. I only wish he knows that I am grateful to know him. Glad to know many others have seen him as I see him, and appreciate him as I appreciate him.

  • 2020-09-28 00:22:17 View / Comment (3)
    Andy Davey

    Andy Davey

    Andy Davey

    Nick and I lived on the same floor in our first year at Surrey Uni in 1988 with 12 others drawn mostly from across the UK but also from overseas. The personalities were diverse, but Nick stood out from week 1. Not just because he was tall, witty and didn't suffer fools lightly. But also because in Freshers week he caught a black eye from a riposte that "Acid John" didn't find so witty. Nick was always a legend from thereon in. As can be expected, so many great memories of a first year at uni. Two special memories of Nick: 1) our floor trip to the ram where Nick was first to cave to toxicity of the cider cocktails (I'll spare the lurid details); 2) end of term and skint, Nick blags a sheep's heart from the butcher's, boils it with some rice and serves both doused in ribena (blackcurrant cordial) which is all he had left in his food cupboard. I can remember it as if it was yesterday. Over the next four years, our friendship grew but in isolation of others. We each had our own group of friends which we didn't mix but we would spend time together. He would accompany me to watch my favourite small time bands in London, Marquee, Borderline, Dingwalls to name but three. With his height, he would help me flypost in areas of Waterloo out of reach to the average cleaners so the stickers survived a decade. And in our final year, our rooms faced each other over a green - so we would often just chill out when we weren't in the mood for wider company. And indeed both came back early from the Xmas vacation when hardly anyone else was around. After we graduated in 92, we somehow reconmected after a few lost years via social media. He came to stay with me in Guildford sometime in the late 90s and took me on a night out in London (first time I tried virtual reality). We stayed in touch over the years via social media but never hooked up again. Something I now regret. I love my memories of the time we shared and even though I hadn't seen Nick for years, our correspondence felt we shared the same affection for each other we always had. I am gutted we won't get the chance to meet again on this planet, kick myself for not making a trip to see him but so grateful for the times we did share and the precious memories I hold. Finally, if anyone can shed light on why when he was in France in his industrial year, he woke up alone with a dog lead and collar I would be delighted for the mystery to be solved ...

  • 2020-09-21 17:28:56 View / Comment (1)
    Mier Tang

    Mier Tang

    Mier Tang

    Just him after he made some sarcastic jokes

  • 2020-09-21 17:21:16 View / Comment (1)
    Mier Tang

    Mier Tang

    Mier Tang

    Nick and I were in Guilin, China, Stopped this bar and this cat saw Nick far away from the other side of the bar and walked all the way crossed the room walked over me and went straight to Nick and sat down and slept on his lap. After all the stories he told me about his magic on cats and dogs, I believed...

  • 2020-09-20 18:20:46 View / Comment (0)
    Liza Patoux

    Liza Patoux

    Liza Patoux

    Freshers Week, the Students Union Bar, Surrey University. Our parents dropped us off on campus a couple of days earlier. Work hasn’t started yet and the new cohort of 18 and 19 year olds are high on the new adventure as we forged new life-long friends that week and excitedly spent our grants on pints for our new best friends.

 We spoke to everyone. “What’s you name? Where do you come from? What course are you doing? What Court of Residence are you in?”, “We’re Nick and Peter. And we’re studying dance.” “Yes dance,” said the 6ft 3 Nick, head titled back and a now familiar twinkle in the eye. 

I don’t know how long I was fooled into believing that Nick and Peter were dancers. The Freshers Week discos probably clarified that point. However very soon we realised that we had both signed up for Drama Soc at the Freshers Fayre and had also chosen to take a Drama Elective on Friday mornings, where we met Paul Lloyd.

 In our first term, Nick and I played alongside each other in a student production called “After Midnight Before Dawn”. Nick’s character was called “Man”, I played “Calm Woman”. We played condemned convicts awaiting the gallows at dawn. Only my character was adamant that she would not be hung. Nick had lines like “Shut your mouth before I shut it with my fist.” I had “I shall not be hung, that much is certain.” To cut a long story short, Nick murdered me, fulfilling my prophecy that I would not be hung. Student productions ….

 In our second year, Nick, Paul Lloyd and I took over the running of Drama Soc, with Paul Chairman, Nick the Treasurer and me the Secretary. In the second year, Nick and I each directed a play, and fundraised with a Lower Bar Disco. However when Nick and I attended a Students Union Society Budget Meeting with the Union Financial Officer, we discovered that the money we had raised for our next production had to pay off a loan to the previous year’s committee. That was one of my earliest lessons in budgeting and we didn’t think it was very fair. 

One of the benefits of the Drama Society was that it got access to the Students Union mini bus. We we were not allowed cars on campus due to limited parking, so borrowing the mini bus gave us access to a world beyond Guildford. We applied and successfully got a night’s use for Drama Soc. But where could we go? Nick threw in that he had been clubbing at the legendary Marquee Club and that it was pretty cool. So that was it. We were heading to London to watch some bands. The mini-bus insurance only covered sensible over 21-year olds, so Paul was the driver by default and the rest of us were very grateful to Paul taking on the role of Dad for the night. As we got into London, Nick suggested a game of Traffic Light Chicken. Every time Paul stopped at a red light, our gang got out and ran around the mini-bus once, led by Nick, before getting back in so that Paul could drive off. I was chicken, so stayed in the minibus though I think Katie Lloyd was braver than me as I can picture her running around the van. We eventually arrived at the Marquee. It was closed. So we found a pub for a drink and drove home. And that was our London minibus adventure.

 This picture is L-R of Nick, me, Paul and Katie, taken on a Drama Soc outing to our favourite Indian, a rare treat at one of the students’ favourite restaurants. Nick had just had a new hair cut and was deliberately pulling a goofy face. Nick was a brilliant student and graduated with a First Class Honours degree in Information Systems Engineering, which got him a scholarship at Penn for his PhD.

  • 2020-09-20 16:15:49 View / Comment (0)
    Liza Patoux

    Liza Patoux

    Liza Patoux

    Thank you to everyone for sharing your memories and photographs of our dear friend Nick. It is very much appreciated and I hope will help us all remember him. I have loved seeing your pictures and reading your words and will be pulling together my own over the coming weeks. Probably little by little as I work through them, starting with Freshers Week when Nick left home and started his Undergraduate Degree at the University of Surrey, where he excelled himself. For now, though, the profile photo was taken of Nick at the Heritage Steam Railway in Leicester, which we rode a few times. On this occasion, we somehow missed the last train back from the end of the line and had to be rescued somehow. One day I hope to ride it again with one or two of Nick's friends. ❤️

  • 2020-09-20 16:02:34 View / Comment (1)
    Carol Davis

    Carol Davis

    Carol Davis

    (Part 3) He inherited the "Wright" blue eyes - they twinkle. He inherited his mum's kindness, compassion, practical, pragmatic and getting on with it; his dad's dry wit and keeping some things close to his chest. We all touch others lives - be that small or large. If it results in positive experiences we are all the richer for those bonds and friendships. I remember Rosemary (his mum, my godmother) telling me how proud she was of him and his achievements. She went to the cinema to see all his films and, unlike most people, sat at the end whilst the credits rolled so that she could see his name on the screen. I had not seen him for some years but Facebook is a great tool for reaching out and keeping in touch. We will remember.

  • 2020-09-20 15:23:35 View / Comment (0)
    Carol Davis

    Carol Davis

    Carol Davis

    (Part 2) One of my earliest memories was at my mum and dad's house when Rosemary brought Nick, as a baby, for the day. For lunch Rosemary mashed up a banana which Nick ate with gusto but the look of it made me feel sick (haven't eaten mashed banana since). Also the big Christmas gatherings at Granny and Grandpa's farm when there could be up to 25 of us sat around the table for Christmas dinner or Boxing Day. There was no TV at Granny's so Nick always had some gadget or other that he was obsessed with. From the photos I see Nick inherited his mum's love of cats; the "careful with money" but not really mean (definitely a "Wright" trait ) - liking to enjoy himself and share, particularly with friends. To love and be loved - we cannot ask for more.

  • 2020-09-20 15:55:47 View / Comment (0)
    Carol Davis

    Carol Davis

    Carol Davis

    (Part 1) I knew Nick from the day he was born. I am the oldest of the "Wright" cousins. Martin (my dad), Jeremy, Rosemary (Nick's mum), Tim, and Julia (Nick's godmother) were the children of Lewis Derrick Wright and Elinor Margot Bentley. The "cousins" near and far - Martin's (me and Bob); Jerry's (Stephen, Jane, Mark and Jonathan - deceased); Rosemary's (Nick and Cathy); Tim's (Sarah) and Julia's (Richard, Simon and Edward). We all have different memories to share.

  • 2020-09-20 00:54:34 View / Comment (1)
    Nikie Xiong

    Nikie Xiong

    Nikie Xiong

    Nick at The Great Wall. Wasn’t super impressed. Oct, 2009

  • 2020-09-19 18:35:36 View / Comment (0)
    Peter Davies

    Peter Davies

    Peter Davies

    Philadelphia September 1997

  • 2020-09-19 18:34:53 View / Comment (0)
    Peter Davies

    Peter Davies

    Peter Davies

    Whitsands 1992

  • 2020-09-19 16:46:20 View / Comment (1)
    Peter Davies

    Peter Davies

    Peter Davies

    Geodesic sphere

  • 2020-09-19 16:45:34 View / Comment (1)
    Peter Davies

    Peter Davies

    Peter Davies

    I met Nick pretty much day 1 of university. We weee on the same course. As Liza Patoux has just reminded me the two of us said we were studying dance not information system engineering. So Nick and I did the same course, shared a house in our semiconductor year with pail and Debbie, were the only 2 on our programme to do our sandwich year in France. So memories/photos- allegedly nick and I put a shopping trolley on the geodesic sphere on campus. Photo on the post final exams trip to whitsands in 1992, and Nick happy in Philadelphia in 1997. A great guy..

  • 2020-09-19 09:10:32 View / Comment (1)
    Nikie Xiong

    Nikie Xiong

    Nikie Xiong

    Happy Birthday, Nick! I dug out this photo. It’s probably the only photo of us together. I first met Nick back in Oct 2009. He was a distinguished guest for an animation festival where I was coordinating the guest relations. Nick was a bit different from the others. At first I knew him as “water god”, a guy who created water simulation algorithm and won an Oscar for it. But he’s not uptight or seemingly “distinguished” at all. He asked if I didn’t like one of the people in our group. It felt a bit intrusive cause he was right. I learned that he’s witty with a glimpse of sarcasm. He made sharp comments about people and pointed out the ugly reality. In 2010, Nick came back to Beijing. He wanted to move there for some reason I learned about much later. I introduced him to my first boss in Crystal CG. Somehow it didn’t work out. We kept emailing once a while. He wrote me recommendation and I came to US for grad school. He shared lots of things about “westerners” and cultural hints. I stopped using my school email address that started with triple X. Then we got busy and didn’t write much for 2 years. Our path crossed again when he moved to Palo Alto. Funny that I found out by coincident he lived in a motel that’s 1 minute walking distance from our apartment. Nick knew everything about humanity, tricks like hugging someone for 20 seconds so oxytocin kicks in, tips of sensing the mood of the room, etc. I enjoyed a lot of his various dates and his theory of attraction. It’s interesting for me who has limited dating experience. I told him everything: my relationship, 3rd snow in Beijing, PhD or not, ditch art or not, nice or annoying colleagues, etc. He joked that I was his "favorite communist” because my silly arguments a zillion years ago. He knew me pretty well but I don’t really know things from his side. I didn’t know any of Nick’s friend before he got sick. Nick seemed to like hard core sci-fi, wine and liquor, trip-hop music, Fall Out 4, racing, tea, cats, and petite Asian women. He said that he hated ballet and anything that's caucasian stereotype. Although later when I visit him and Yu-chieh at his apartment, I found out he had the complete set of William Shakespeare on his book shelf, and a neon sign of a typical dive bar on his wall. That’s quite English to me. Nick liked ocean. He was staying in Pacifica before moving to North Carolina. I used to drive through the fogs into route 1 from 280 once every two weeks to visit him. He couldn’t go out a lot because of his treatment. Yu-chieh and sexy cat have been accompanying him. His mind was never trapped in a room though. I whined about frictions in my life. He talked about his cancer progression, politics, sci-fi, games, and friend’s visits. He made jokes about dying. We had a lot of laughs, and watch movies with too much blood in it. I visited him a few times when he’s in North Carolina. His body got weaker but even that he’s still smart and funny. I wanted to visit hime more but then I got stuck in Mexico, then my husband moved back, then my parents were visiting, then pandemic started. I haven’t been able to see him since end of July last year. Nick was a friend, a career coach, a life mentor. He left his mark in this world. He also influenced a lot of who I am today, and a lot of others too I’m sure. I really miss him. Goodbye, Nick.

  • 2020-09-19 01:58:26 View / Comment (1)
    Shawn Neely

    Shawn Neely

    Shawn Neely

    Nick, Yuchieh, and Sexy Cat together during one of my visits to see them in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

  • 2020-09-19 01:55:55 View / Comment (2)
    Shawn Neely

    Shawn Neely

    Shawn Neely

    Happy Birthday, Nick, wherever you are now! I first met Nick at PDI when we hired him to develop a water simulation system on "Antz" (for which he won an Academy Award technical achievement certificate in 1999). We spent some time together during his trip to Burning Man in 2005, and over a bottle of tequila he gave me my playa name "Shawn Shiva" because all the cool kids at Burning Man had interesting nicknames, and we thought it would make it easier to introduce ourselves to strangers, lol. I still use that name to this day! But I didn't really get to know him well until a decade later when he returned to San Francisco after professional stints in New York and Montreal. We started meeting regularly once a month for an evening of drinking, eating, philosophy, and occasional inebriated walking adventures around SF. It was during those nights out that he introduced me to his version of tossing a coin to settle who would pay the bill. It was a simple twist: "winner pays". He said that context created a win-win situation, since the "winner" of the coin toss got to buy food and drinks for his friend, and the non-winner of the coin toss got a free dinner! It was such a charming way to look at things, and statistically it should all even out in the long run. I would typically toss the coin, Nick would make the call, and for the first 10 months or so he "won" every time. It freaked me out how many times he won that coin toss, but he took obvious pleasure in seeing how perplexed I was that he could win so many times in a row! (I was so relieved when I finally won the toss that I shouted out loud and jumped to my feet in a crowded restaurant.) After his cancer diagnosis in 2017 we bumped up and changed our visits to weekly hikes along the bluffs and beaches around Pacifica. And when he moved with Yuchieh and "Sexy Cat" to North Carolina, I was fortunate to visit together a few times there. He never lost his dark sense of humor, and often made me laugh until I was crying. The last time I saw him was this past November. Each time we parted with a great hug, unsure if we'd see each other again, so I actually had several opportunities to exchange fond farewells. We all miss you dearly, Nick. Your friend, Shawn

  • 2020-09-15 19:40:48 View / Comment (3)
    Katie Lloyd

    Katie Lloyd

    Katie Lloyd

    Oh where to begin. I will miss his friendship so much and our frequent chats and phone calls. I’ve known Nick for over 32 years and was looking to many many more to come, preferably involving red wine, stilton cheese , skips and matchmakers (I could never remember if he preferred the green or orange ones the best). The last time I visited him in NC I was worried customs would open my suitcase and see the entire contents stuffed with chocolate for him ! Words to describe Nick would be funny, fiercely intelligent, irreverent, and kind. He could also be “careful” with money (he bought a pink ski suit because it was cheaper and he didn’t care that it was a women’s one). And tossing the coin as to who would pay the dinner bill (event though it was his turn !). I There are so many memories to share but some of the best ones are: him riding the tea cups at Disneyland with Martha(aged5) and then her trying to beat him at Mariocart; slagging off Sam Brown just as she walks by (as we were about to see her sing); being sent strange items in the past (apples, eggs to name but a few).; trying to fix his bow tie on with a safety pin for graduation and laughing as he ordered the wrong length dinner trousers (too short of course) I will miss asking him for TV and film recommendations. He introduced Paul and I to the Matrix when we were out in SF and its still one of my favourite films . Finally I have to say a special thanks to Yuchieh who sacrificed the last few years to look after and love Nick. ! Good bye Nick , much love Kratey xx ps I love this photo as it was taken just after graduation at ( Liza’s fantastic party), and he had the world at his feet after gaining a first class degree, and was off the USA !

  • 2020-09-15 10:01:30 View / Comment (0)
    Denise Howard

    Denise Howard

    Denise Howard

    One of my favorite memories of Nick was when a group of us went up to the city one evening (can't remember the occasion). As we were all walking down the street, a guy walking the other direction did something physical to Nick on the way by to clearly indicate he was interested. Nick's head swung around and he simply smiled big and said "Thanks!", without a trace of homophobic recoil. It was the first time I'd ever seen a straight man so secure in his manhood that he simply accepted something like that as a compliment in the moment without a second thought.

  • 2020-09-15 03:40:38 View / Comment (0)

    Patricia Hannaway

    Shrek garage wrap party 1998!

  • 2020-09-15 03:14:20 View / Comment (1)

    Patricia Hannaway

    Nick was a great wit and absolutely brilliant! He could belly laugh with the best of them and thought Asian woman were the greatest! Which bummed me out because I wasn’t Asian... what can you do, lol! At the PDI garage bash (you PDI-ers remember that?) we had more laughs doing Jell-O shots and throwing small bean bags thru hoops in the games. U missed, and another Jell-O shot! But seriously, he was a gentle soul at heart and felt more than he ever let on. His teaching at UPenn and his fluid dynamic and VFX programming are stunning! He made the work appear effortless! And it was genius! I lost touch with Nick over the years, last seeing him at the PDI/Dreamworks closing at Redwood Shores. He had just returned to the Bay Area and looked healthy and excited to try a new venture. A vivid smile and that British twinkle in his eye radiated a warmth of spirit and an intelligence to light up the darkest day! I always felt there was more going on than he ever let on. Dear Nick, gone too soon! You will be missed and remembered! I wish u knew how much you were appreciated and loved! You will be missed, dear friend....

  • 2020-09-15 02:20:52 View / Comment (2)
    Marty Sixkiller

    Marty Sixkiller

    Marty Sixkiller

    I remember going out to dinner with Nick and several other co-workers to celebrate a birthday. We were going to an upscale restaurant and we had a reservation. If I recall correctly, the place was packed and the wait staff was scrambling everywhere. The hostess was incredibly rude to us when we went to check in and Nick just let her have it with a few choice words said under his breath but loud enough where he knew she could hear them. I think she was in shock that he just came right out without pause and spoke his mind. She clearly wasn't expecting it... neither was I. I was honestly put off at first by Nick's response but reflected on the situation and admire the fact that Nick didn't put up with anybody's crap. You'll always be THE most quick-witted fellow I've ever met and my brain just hurts trying to keep up with some of the conversations I was around you for that was massive heights above my intellectual level. There is a massive void here on earth now but I hope you have everyone in Heaven laughing hysterically. I'm incredibly blessed to have known you and worked with you. You are incredibly missed.

  • 2020-09-15 00:04:48 View / Comment (1)
    Denise Howard

    Denise Howard

    Denise Howard

    This is the only photo I have of Nick, from the PDI holiday party in SF in...1998, I think. That's me sitting next to him. He was very dashing in his tux.

  • Denise Howard 2020-09-15 10:01:30 wrote:

    One of my favorite memories of Nick was when a group of us went up to the city one evening (can't remember the occasion). As we were all walking down the street, a guy walking the other direction did something physical to Nick on the way by to clearly indicate he was interested. Nick's head swung around and he simply smiled big and said "Thanks!", without a trace of homophobic recoil. It was the first time I'd ever seen a straight man so secure in his manhood that he simply accepted something like that as a compliment in the moment without a second thought.

    Denise Howard 2020-09-15 10:01:30 wrote: One of my favorite memories of Nick was when a group of us went up to the city one evening (can't remember the occasion). As we were all walking down the street, a guy walking the other direction did something physical to Nick on the way by to clearly indicate he was interested. Nick's head swung around and he simply smiled big and said "Thanks!", without a trace of homophobic recoil. It was the first time I'd ever seen a straight man so secure in his manhood that he simply accepted something like that as a compliment in the moment without a second thought.

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