The Ist Family Mourns the Loss of a Dear Friend

It is with heavy hearts that we come to you with news that we have lost a dear member of the Ist family. Phillyist co-editor Star Foster passed away Sunday morning. She had been complaining of a pain in her foot, which she thought had to do with some bad moves she'd made at dance class, but it turns out there was a tumor in her leg which metastasized and went to her heart. She had a seizure Sunday morning, and another on the way to the hospital, where she died of a pulmonary embolism.

Although her soul is no longer earthly bound, the love and laughter Ms. Foster shared so generously left an impression on the hearts and minds of those who loved her that will last forever. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family, friends and the Phillyist staff during this very difficult time.

Details of her memorial service and the Star C. Foster Memorial Scholarship Fund can be found here on Phillyist.

The following is a touching tribute to the talented and beautiful Foster, written by her good friend and co-editor Jim Genzano:

"When I heard that Star Foster had passed away, I didn't believe it. Part of me still doesn't. And it's not just because she was so young and it happened so suddenly, although she was and it did. It's mostly because she was so vibrant. I've never met anyone as fiercely alive as Star. All of her friends were always amazed at the sheer number of things she was doing at any one time. Besides writing for, and editing, Phillyist (of which she was one of the founding members), she also wrote for a women's technology blog called Shiny Shiny, for her own personal blog called Sarcasmo's Corner (where she plotted world domination and warned of the coming robot-ocalypse), for her Livejournal, for a horror movie blog called Monsters at Play, for a writing blog called Bitter Quill, and for all I know for about twenty other blogs, both local and international.

When she wasn't writing for a blog, she was tinkering with a novel or some random piece of short fiction. And when she wasn't writing at all, she was going to see a movie, reading a gothic novel, playing a pirate on a haunted ship, going out dancing at Sex Dwarf, going out dancing at Dracula's Ball, or starring in an indie horror film. And somehow she still found time to hang out with all her friends, and to worry that perhaps her life was too boring and uneventful.

Star loved all things creepy, and had a wonderful, wickedly dark sense of humor. While other people look forward to Thanksgiving or Christmas, Halloween was always her favorite holiday. When she's laid to rest, I hope it's in the creepiest cemetery available, and she can haunt it to her heart's content.

Star Foster was easily one of the kindest, coolest, smartest, funniest, most courageous, most talented, most giving, most wonderful, and just all around best people I've ever known. She always encouraged me to try things she knew I could do, and I thank her for that. She also always gently chided me when I said or did something stupid, and I thank her for that, too. If the world were at all fair, she'd be ruling it now from inside her dual lairs (one in her beloved London, one in Philly), and we'd all be working for her robot slaves. But, as we all know, the world is not fair, and we have to say good-bye to her. So, good-bye, Star. You were one of the good ones. I'll miss you more than I can ever say."