Kiki Foster, a vibrant, insightful, and well-traveled resident of The Chandler Estate, has led a life full of love, resilience, curiosity, and global adventure. Born in El Paso, Texas, Kiki’s journey has taken her across the country and around the world through marriage, military life, caregiving, and a deep devotion to lifelong learning. Today, she reflects on those experiences with warmth, strength, and gratitude.
Kiki initially moved to Morningside at The Meadows in 2018 with her husband Michael Foster, following his diagnosis with Lewy body dementia, a progressive brain disease. With experience from friends who had faced similar diagnoses, they knew their lifestyle would need to adapt. They sold their home and land near Medina Lake, downsized significantly, going from two vehicles to one, and embraced a new chapter at The Meadows, guided in part by their friend and resident Barbara Cavazos.
Despite the challenges of Michael’s illness, the couple remained active and socially engaged. Michael loved dancing, cornhole, and long walks, and they continued to travel, even during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. They followed protocols but still prioritized connection, masking up and dining with different couples to maintain a sense of normalcy and joy. “Don’t be scared,” Michael often said to others confronting similar diagnoses. Michael became an advocate for dementia awareness and transparency, speaking at events like “Caring for the Caregiver” and sharing his story through their church newsletter.
As Michael’s condition progressed and wandering became a concern, Kiki honored her promise to him by arranging a placement in memory care, where he lived for his final three years. During that time, she transitioned to independent living at The Chandler Estate. Michael passed away in March 2025, and Kiki now steps into a new, unexpected role of widowhood with grace and reflection. At his funeral, all five of their children from previous marriages gathered to celebrate his life, sharing beautiful memories and photos. His youngest son, Stewart, a veteran who served three tours in Afghanistan, received the ceremonial flag. It was a powerful moment of family unity and remembrance.
Kiki’s own story is richly layered. The daughter of a Mexican mother and a father from North Carolina who worked as a mining engineer and school builder, she grew up as the youngest of three sisters, with a 15-year age gap between her and her siblings. She attended the same Catholic boarding school in El Paso as her mother and aunts, developing an early and lifelong love for reading. With few peers her age, books became her closest companions. At the end of her junior year, Kiki went on a blind date with Michael Foster, and he later escorted her to her senior prom at Loretto Academy. They stopped dating after heading to separate colleges: Michael to New Mexico State University and Kiki to Texas Western University (now University of Texas at El Paso), where she majored in English and worked as a radio DJ under the name “Beebee,” spinning hits from the 1960s.
She later married her first husband, also named Michael, a PhD graduate and Army officer. Together, they had three children. As an Army wife, Kiki lived in Virginia and the Netherlands, raising a family while continuing her education at night, studying history and creative writing. Eventually divorcing, Kiki reconnected with her high school prom date, Michael Foster, who had also divorced and had two children of his own. The two married in 1988, creating a blended family of five children now spread across Virginia, Colorado, Texas, and the U.K.
In retirement, Kiki and Michael traveled extensively throughout the U.S., Mexico, the Caribbean, Chile, Panama, and even across the Atlantic by sea before eventually settling near Medina Lake in Texas. These shared adventures brought them joy and unforgettable memories. A nurturer of intellect and curiosity, Kiki passed her love of books to her children, one of whom is now the Dean of Library Science at Edwards College in Colorado. Today, at The Chandler, she remains deeply engaged in literary life. She participates in three book clubs, reads avidly from The Chandler’s library, and draws strength from the Book of Common Prayer.
Kiki encourages others not to wait to do what brings them joy. For her, that joy includes travel. Even after a recent knee replacement in January and physical therapy at The Manor, she is preparing for her next adventure which is to walk Hadrian’s Wall in the U.K. A self-described “child of the universe,” Kiki brings wisdom, warmth, and a global perspective to the Morningside community. Her story is a beautiful reminder that even in the face of change and loss, love, connection, and joy endure.
