Theodore Nicholas Foss, 75, of Oak Park, died on Oct. 4, 2026 in the ICU of Rush University Medical Center after an eight-day hospitalization, surrounded by the love of family and friends. He was born in Juneau, Alaska in 1950, when it was a territory, not yet a state, a fact he wore proudly. His parents, both Norwegian-Americans from Washington State, are Harold Byron Foss and Helen Johansen Hunsbedt. The family moved to Palo Alto, California when he was 6. He attended his mother’s alma mater for high school, the Principia Upper School in Missouri and completed his Bachelor of Arts at Pomona College and his MA and PhD at the University of Chicago.
His career was in academics, and his field of interest was the history of China, specifically the interactions of China and Europe in the 18th century. This included study of the Jesuit missions to China. He took many trips to China and other nations in East Asia.
Early on, he had served as a historian to the Archdiocese of Chicago, contributing to books on the history of its parishes and institutions. Short teaching positions at Loyola and UIC were followed by an appointment to the University of San Francisco, where he co-founded the Ricci Institute. He then joined Stanford University’s Center for East Asian Studies as associate director, and later held that same position at the University of Chicago until his retirement. He organized many international conferences and publications to advance the field.
He served 10 years as an elected trustee of the Oak Park Public Library, which he loved dearly.
Ted is survived by his husband, Kent Smith Dymak. They were together for 51 years. Who would have thought 51 years could be so short a time? They applied for and received a domestic partnership certificate from Oak Park on Oct. 27, 1997, the first year such partnerships became available after the referendum. Ted is also survived by his brother, Lachlan, and his sister, Judy; many nieces and grandnieces, and nephews and grand-nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and his older brother, Angus.
Two remembrances are planned. A reception at the University Club of Chicago on Monday, Oct. 26 from 2 to 4 p.m. (he was a 45-year member of the club and a former board member). A memorial Mass will be celebrated at St Giles Catholic Church in Oak Park on Tuesday, Oct. 27 at 10 a.m., Rev. Michael Maher SJ of Marquette University presiding.
If you wish to honor Ted, please direct gifts to the Oak Park Public Library (https://www.oppl.org/about/give/) or to WFMT Classical Radio (https://secure.wfmt.com/pledge/form).