Colin Foden, KPTZ Co-founder, Dies at 77
Foden was well loved as a local radio visionary and for his dry wit.
By Beacon and KPTZ Staff
Colin Foden, one of the original founders of KPTZ, passed away peacefully Thursday, April 9, in home hospice.
Foden was one of a core group of four founders who worked together beginning in 2009 to start our radio station, and according to co-founder Larry Stein, he was, in many ways, the glue that held the station together in the early years. He was always available to talk things over and solve problems.
Foden served many years as the first Board President and was the long time host of KPTZ Goes to the Opera, which aired Sunday mornings for almost fifteen years and often explored the latest opera that was scheduled on at the Rose Theater's Sunday opera offerings. His show really helped make these operas accessible to KPTZ listeners.
Bill Putney, KPTZ’s Chief Engineer, recalls that Foden was instrumental in harnessing everyone’s energy and ideas into an actual radio station:
“I came to the station, shortly after I moved to Port Townsend, in answer to an ad in the Leader requesting engineering help. By then the station already had an FCC Construction permit and a Public Telecommunications Facilities Program 3/4 matching grant to build the station. At that time the cast of characters included Colin Foden, Collin Brown, Sherry Jones, Ann Katzenbach, Lou Schneider (the 1st engineer) and Larry Stein. That was the group that met in Collin Brown’s dining room each week to map out how to get KPTZ on the air.
There was a lot of energy in that group. Colin channeled that energy in constructive directions and arbitrated whatever differences came along within a group of strong willed people. Colin had a clear vision for the station and was really the spokesman for the idea of what the station could be for the community.
I think it was at a party at Larry’s that Colin presented a demo recording of the first underwriter spot, starring Colin in his best BBC sounding voice thanking “Henry’s Garden Center” for their support. That was long before the station went on the air and I don’t know that Henry’s was ever an underwriter, but it sure sounded good. I think it made everyone feel that KPTZ was a real possibility.
Colin always said the station was so lucky that just the right person came along at just the right time. KPTZ was so lucky that Colin came along right at the start. We were so lucky to have known him.”
Stein recalls that Foden also enjoyed a 'dry english wit' and was a fan of Monty Python, so between that and his love of opera, it’s clear Foden appreciated the finer things.
Steve Evans, former KPTZ News Director and host of the "Compass" sums up what a huge loss Foden is for all who knew him:
“It is an eternal mystery how a wisdom and dry wit such as that exemplified by Colin Foden ever arises out of the wet mud of Earth, and even more of a mystery how it could ever disappear once arisen. I don’t think it can, in fact. Colin will live for at least as long as he is remembered, which I hope will be for a very, very long time.”
Ann Katzenbach, another one of original founders of KPTZ remembered him this way:
“Colin was one of those people I count so fortunate to have known and worked with. His wonderful wit, his infinite patience and wisdom, were an inspiration to all of us who worked with him. He always seemed to see further ahead than most of us and he was undaunted by setbacks. I doubt that we could have gotten KPTZ off the ground and on the air without him.
“He was sitting on the steps of the post office with his dog, one spring day years ago. He asked,
‘what did I think of the idea of a radio station for Port Townsend?’ I signed up on the spot because it was radio, and it was Colin.”
He will be deeply missed by those who worked under his leadership and valued his friendship.
