RIP Bill Koster
Just heard the news that Bill Koster has passed. A man who influenced all of us, whether you ever made one of his conversions or models or not.
The nicest guy to ever deal with in the hobby. He always had time for everybody.
I hate you hate you hate you, 2020!
Here's an e-mail from Bill's wife, Devorah:
email from Bill's wife, Devorah
From: william koster
Subject: Bill Koster
Date: September 14, 2020 at 12:57:27 PM EDT
To:
With great sadness I inform you of the passing of my husband William Koster, age 91. Bill died peacefully on Sunday, September 13, 2020 at home in Florida.
Bill Koster was born on Long Island NY. During the Korean war Bill served for four years in the US army as a paratrooper, stationed in Japan. He graduated from Pratt Institute NY in Industrial Design.
Bill worked for several decades as a kit designer for Revell-Monogram. After retirement, he continued his contributions to the plastic models society under Koster Aero Enterprises, KAE.
Bill was loved and respected by all. Please share this information with Bill's many friends. I will also forward it to several friends in Chicago and CA.
Thank you all so much for being good friends for many years.
Devorah Koster
This is terrible news. He was one of the greats and will be missed.
2020 does suck.
RIP to The Great Man.
Very sad news. RIP
Bill was a very nice guy and an excellent modeler. I met him at a regional contest in Milwaukee, Wisconsin held by the Dick Bong chapter. I think it was 1989, and he myself and several others went to dinner at Mader's German restaurant. Great time and memory.
I have never ever heard a bad word about him from anyone, or anyone saying they'd heard anything from any other source. We should all be so lucky to have such a reputation.
Amen.
I can only second the amen.
Sad news indeed. I have purchased several assorted modelling bits and pieces over the years from Bill. First the vacform wheelwells for the Monogram P-38 and as these fit I moved on to the 1/48 A-20 Vacform kit as it was the only kit in that scale at the time. Not long after the paint dried guess what? AMT popped a couple out. Years later I stocked up on 1/48 B-24 conversion bits along with with his gracious input on what I was trying to achieve with early RAAF B-24's. Every time from now on when I lift the lid on another classic Monogram kit I will smile as I think of Bill's talented input.
My deepest sympathy to his family. God bless!