Gay Marie Foster Meyers, 63, of Nuangola, PA., died Monday night, August 8, 2011 at home after a courageous fight with Alzheimer's. Born March 6, 1948 in Carbondale, PA., she was the daughter of the late Ronald and Roberta (Becker) Foster. She was a 1970 graduate of Lock Haven State College having received a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education and Health, a 1976 graduate of Wilkes University having received a Masters of Science in Education and a 1994 graduate of Bloomsburg University having received a Masters of Science in Early Childhood Education. Prior to her retirement in 2003, she had been employed at Wilkes University for 33 years. She started her career at Wilkes as an assistant professor in the Department of Physical Education where she also served as an Intramural Director, Ski Club Advisor and Head Field Hockey Coach. She also started the women's varsity basketball and softball programs. She later worked as an associate professor for the Department of Education and served as Acting Chairperson in the fall of 1999. Gay was very involved in university and community service affairs. She was very passionate about issues concerning social welfare, diversity, education and athletics. A few of the committee's she serve on or chaired included: Student Life, Athletics and Media Committee, Hall of Fame Committee, Teacher Education Committee, Aids Awareness Committee, NEPA Diversity Education Consortium, Human Diversity Initiative Committee, Planning Committee for Racial Summit 99, several Middle States Review Committee's, Six College Diversity Conference and the Child Development Council of NEPA Board. She was a participant in several Excellence in Leadership Seminars and the education programs Learn to Link Grant. She organized Wilkes children's literature students in a reading program for students in the Wyoming Valley West School District and designed and implemented a program for education students to teach physical education lessons in a classroom setting. She was a member of the Association for Childhood Education International, Kappa Delta Pi, Phi Delta Kappa and the Union Dale Presbyterian Church. She was nominated for the Carpenter Award, presented the 30 Year Service Award from Wilkes, and was most proud of her nomination for National Recognition as Advisor of the Year. In 2003, she was inducted into the Wilkes Athletics Hall of Fame. In 2010, she received the prestigious Wilkes Athletics Ancestral Colonels Award and on August 21st she will be inducted into the Wyoming Valley Sports Hall of Fame. She is survived by one daughter: Lee Meyers Pollaro, MD. and husband Vincent of Wellsboro, PA.; her partner of 25 years: Eileen Sharp of Nuangola, PA.; a grandson: Ethan Pollaro; four sisters: Sharon Lubasezwski of Union Dale, PA., Bonnie Ahles of Australia, Kelly Coale and husband Chris of Souderton, PA. and Teri Green and husband Daniel of Harvey's Lake, PA.; two brothers: Jim Foster and wife Lin of Plains, MT. and Dale Foster and wife Ruth of Union Dale, PA.; numerous nieces and nephews as well as aunts and cousins. The funeral was held Monday, August 15, 2011 at 12:00 PM from the Union Dale Presbyterian Church, State Route 2023, Union Dale, PA., with Rev. Arthur Dunham of Manchester, CT., officiating. Interment, Union Dale Cemetery, Union Dale. Pallbearers: James Foster, Dale Foster, Fran Greytock, Daniel Green, Christopher Coale and Scott Kershaw. Friends called Sunday, August 14, 2011 from 2-4 7-9 PM at Carmine J. Louis C. Parise Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., Farview and 41st Streets, Carbondale, PA. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions were made in Gay's name to the Alzheimer's Association of NEPA, 57 N. Franklin St., Wilkes Barre, PA. 18701 or the Union Dale Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 15, Union Dale, PA. 18470.