Mr. James Foley

James Ross Foley, a respected Reuters journalist whose career spanned continents and some of the most significant global events of his time, passed away on Sunday March 15, 2026 after a lifetime of distinguished service. Born on February 8, 1939, in Sherbrooke, Quebec, he earned a Bachelor of Applied Arts (Journalism) Degree from Ryerson University,Toronto, in 1963.

He began his career as a reporter and subeditor with The Canadian Press in Toronto, followed by reporting roles in London England with several newspapers and as chief reporter for the Richmond and Twickenham Times in Surrey, England.

Mr. Foley joined Reuters news service in 1967 as a subeditor, becoming chief subeditor at its Fleet Street headquarters in London, He then served as EU correspondent in Brussels and as defence correspondent at NATO headquarters in Brussels with assignments across all alliance states.

From 1978 to 1983, he was chief correspondent for Japan, Korea, and the Northern Pacific (including the Marianas, Carolines, Marshalls, Palau, and Yap), reporting extensively from Tokyo with additional assignments to Afghanistan during the Soviet invasion, Pakistan, India, and China. He later served as Editor-in-Charge of the Reuters World Desk in Hong Kong and as Special Features and Diplomatic Writer for Asia.

In 1985, he became chief correspondent for East Africa and the Indian Ocean, based in Nairobi. He later served as Gulf War correspondent based in Bahrain and Gulf tanker war correspondent based in Dubai.

In December 1988 Jim returned to Canada where his family was then living and retired from Reuters the following year.

He became health conscious and along with his crispy rosy apple would walk miles every day. He and his wife, Myrna, travelled and spent 15 winters in Ajijic, Mexico where the sun always shone and walking was easy. An avid reader from an early age, Jim knew the whereabouts every book in every library where he lived.

Unfortunately, a few years ago dementia set in and then evolved into severe Alzheimer's. His once great brain shut down; he could no longer talk or walk. But he had his wheelchair, and ever the curious journalist, Jim would wheel into every room on the floor to visit with the other patients and find out what was going on, peering into all their drawers and sometimes bringing something from his own room to leave in their drawers.

He died peacefully in Montreal surrounded by his family. He leaves his wife Myrna of 62 years, his daughters Sarah and Rebecca, his son James and his grandchildren Zachary, Laura, Benjamin, Hanna, Kyle, Sadie and Elias.