Foster Kilgroe Cather, Jr., age 71, passed away peacefully at his home in Knoxville, TN on the morning of March 19, 2026.

Born on December 28, 1954, Foster was a man of strength, discipline, and conviction, whose life was marked by dedication to his passions, his family, and his principles.

Foster was raised in South Florida. He attended Dania Elementary School and Olson Junior High School in Dania and later graduated from South Broward High School in Hollywood, Florida. He continued his education at Miami Dade Community College in Miami, Florida.

Foster was perhaps best known for his lifelong commitment to Olympic weightlifting. At only 19 years of age, he claimed the 1974 Junior National Championship title. A determined athlete, he earned multiple state titles and set state records in the Heavyweight class in Florida during the late 1970s and early 1980s. One of his most impressive records was a 407-pound clean and jerk. Accomplished and highly disciplined, Foster qualified for the United States Olympic Team in 1980, the year of the Moscow Olympics, which the US boycotted due to political reasons. Though the opportunity to compete on the Olympic stage was lost, Foster continued to pursue excellence in weightlifting, finishing in the top three at multiple National championships.

Over the years Foster would compete occasionally in powerlifting, but his love for lifting never waned. The gym was his second home, and his many lifting partners became like family. If you were in the gym with Foster, you knew it. He was big and bold and friendly. He would engage in spirited conversation, lift heavy, and then encourage others to do the same. He happily trained many people over the years, only expecting to be paid with their effort and commitment to the lift. Foster’s love for weightlifting will live on through so many people he touched.

His strength, discipline, and competitive spirit in athletics mirrored the same qualities he carried throughout his life.

He retired after a distinguished 30-year career with AT&T, beginning his journey in the late 1970s as a Service Technician in the Hollywood, Florida area when the company was known as Southern Bell. Through dedication and a strong work ethic, he advanced to become a Service Consultant in West Palm Beach, Florida under BellSouth, where he earned the respect of colleagues and clients alike. Continuing his upward path, he later moved to Knoxville, Tennessee, serving as an Account Executive with AT&T. In this role, he specialized in designing complex network solutions for major companies, combining technical expertise with a talent for building lasting professional relationships

Foster loved all animals and adopted dozens of cats over the years. He would occasionally take home a stray cat, but typically cats just came to him, showing up in his yard or on his doorstep. For many years, he made sure the feral cats around his workplace had access to food and warm places. Foster has lovingly cared for his tortoises Sappho, Sophie and Yuri building a large turtle den in his backyard in order to provide the best life for them. In keeping with his love for these creatures, his tortoises will be donated to The Knoxville Zoo, where they will be cared for and enjoyed by the public.

Foster loved skiing, hiking, waterfalls, the sun, his beautiful lawn! Star Trek, old cowboy movies, classic rock, beer, talking and trading his stocks.

Foster was preceded in death by his parents, Foster Kilgroe Cather, Sr. and Andrea DeVore Cather, and by his sister, Claudia Cather.

Foster is survived by his devoted wife, Donna Cather; his sister, Penny Baker and her husband Paul Baker of Sebastian, Florida; his sister, April Jopling of Townsend, Tennessee; his niece Dawn Harden and her husband Donald Harden of Sebastian, Florida; his nephew Paul Baker and his wife Jamie, along with their son Adrian, of Sebastian, Florida; his nephew Jeff Jopling and his wife, Nicole Jopling, of Townsend, Tennessee, and their children, Perry and Reid; and his nephew Jason Cather and his wife, Megan Cather of Indianapolis, Indiana, along with their children, Thomas and Theodore.

Foster will be fondly remembered for his integrity, perseverance, and the quiet but lasting impact he made on those around him. His legacy lives on in the many lives he touched, both professionally and personally.

In lieu of flowers: Please make donations to the Feral Feline Friends of East Tennessee (https://feralfelinefriends.org/) or The Knoxville Zoo (https://www.zooknoxville.org/).

Family will receive friends from 5:00 until 6:00 PM, Friday, March 27, 2026, at Smith Trinity Chapel. Funeral Service will be at 6:00 PM with Rev. Sydney Davis officiating. Condolences may be shared at Smith Funeral & Cremation Service, Maryville, 865-983-1000, www.SmithFuneralandCremation.com.