Captain James Foley

James L. Foley, age 81, died suddenly and peacefully in his sleep on 12/12/20 while in Stuart, Florida, as a seasonal “snowbird” resident from New York. Home is White Plains, New York and spends summers in Amagansett, New York. He purchased a condo in Stuart in 2011, to spend time here where the weather is warmer. We had rented in St Augustine, Florida for 12 years prior just to miss winter snow; but, that area of Florida can be cold, and it was, so the “snowbirds” went further south to Vista Pines, our heavenly spot.

Jim was born in Mt Vernon, New York on November 29, 1939 to Lawrence and Jane (Matthews) Foley. He attended and graduated from Eastchester schools in New York prior to joining the US Navy in 1957 to 1962. He was a proud Navy vet.

During the years spent in the Navy, he was a top Boson Mate and a member of the special underwater demolition team assigned to two mine sweepers - USS Independence and the USS Assurance. He saw active duty in the Mediterranean during the civil war in Lebanon and was in Cuban waters during the Bay of Pigs, blowing up mines. The US Navy was there to block the Russian ships from getting to Cuba during the missile crisis.

Upon discharge from the Navy he did many jobs – learned to be a bricklayer, built swimming pools, became a carpet mechanic and was a volunteer firefighter in the Town of Eastchester, New York since high school.

He became a paid firefighter with the Greenville Fire Department in Scarsdale, New York. While working there, he assisted at the Westchester Fire Training Center for young and new rookies.

He helped build an obstacle course for future firefighters to show them how to safely disengage themselves so they could survive and not die in the fire. All the obstacles that they built were where a firefighter had died or was badly injured. He also instructed classes in knot tying (from Navy training) for propelling down from burning roofs, or, for saving people. He was a great teacher and everyone paid attention because he made them laugh during these serious sessions. He also became a trained and certified EMT with a little extra medical knowledge from his wife, who was a NYS registered nurse.

He was for several years on the negotiating team for better equipment and benefits for all future and current firefighters.

Jim became an Acting Fire Captain several years before retiring after 28 years of active service.

He was a member of the Emerald Society’s Westchester Firefighters Bagpipers and Drummers Marching Band. He was a lead drummer. Their band won many marching trophies. Their favorite parade was NYC St Patrick’s Day Parade, marching with all the NYC and Westchester Firefighters. He started out playing a bagpipe but our Bassett Hound dog would howl every time he practiced so he switched to the drum. His musical talents also helped him learn to play the guitar.

Jim’s love for the sea and boating lead him to owning many boats over the years. His last boat was called “TH Y IRISH MIST” and was moored in Montauk, New York at Gone Fishing Marina. Our kids, friends, and family enjoyed many hours in the waters of Gardner’s Bay, Montauk Point, and Black Island – fishing and boating, hoping to catch the “big one” for the prize board at the Marina. He was given a camera to catch a picture of the big ones that got away – to match some of the stories that came along with these magic moments we all enjoyed.

He traveled to Alaska, Canada, Venezuela, Mexico, Cuba, and the entire Eastern coast of the US from Maine to Florida catching fish and sharks – all kinds. He was a member of the tag and release oceanographic research team that was tracking the migration of sharks. Many tags were returned with important data and each time he received a hat. Sharks travel far – caught in Montauk, NY – caught again off coast of Africa, South America, Cuba, Spain, Greece, Portugal and each time a hat arrived – his collection was huge. Everyone he knew got a hat.

Retirement gave him more time to travel – unable to sit still, he expanded his interests. He bought a Harley Motorcycle and joined the White Plains “HOGS”. His wife thought he had really lost his mind – yelling that was too dangerous and insisted that he take a safety motorcycle course that police officers take – you guessed it, he passed.

The Hogs were a group of retired doctors , dentists, teachers, cops and firefighters and even one of Donald Trumps’ accountants, who wanted to see the great American Countryside the way the pioneers did. They did Mount Rushmore, Grand Canyon, gold mines, Badlands, Indian Reservations, all National Parks – Zion, Yellowstone, Sturgis (with 400,000 others) Coast of California, Mexico, Route 66, Salt Flats, Montreal, Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, Rolling Thunder Rally for US Vets to Washington, DC and Gucci Garlic Run to raise money for the Make-a-Wish Foundation.

Jim was also a Navy Vet who escorted older vets from Westchester County, NY to get them to Washington, DC to see all the new monuments that were built to honor their service. He was also a 50 year member of the American Legion and Elks Club.

Jim loved golf, fishing, and ice hockey as a player and a fan. Both his son, Robert and grandson, Sean fish and play ice hockey. Many tips and secret numbers for good fishing grounds and ice hockey players were passed on.

Jim met his future wife, Marilyn, who is a nurse, on a blind date in 1963. She became the love of his life and they were married August 21, 1965. They enjoyed 55 years together. Soon two children came along, Dawn was born in 1969 and Robert in 1974.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his beloved daughter Dawn, who passed away June 6, 2019. He leaves behind his wife, Marilyn, of 55 years, son Robert, grandson Sean Michael, ex-daughter-in-law Jennifer and a sister Catherine Klarmann and husband George of South Carolina, two brothers-in-law Wayne Fedorczak (wife Karen) and Gary Fedorczak (wife Betty) of Yorktown and Dover Plains, New York; many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends all across the USA.

He was one-of-a-kind; a great gentleman who enjoyed life to the fullest and never wanted to grow old. He was honest, generous, happy, hard-working and fun-loving all the time. His smile and twinkling mischievous blue “Irish” eyes always got to me.

He was a great story teller, photographer and most of all a great family man who will be missed by everyone. He enjoyed good friends, good food, good times and good laughs and will be missed by all those who were fortunate to know him.

Memorial services will be held at a future date in the spring, 2021 in While Plains, New York when we can safely gather to celebrate this humble and happy man’s extraordinary life.

Donations can be made in his name to St Jude’s Children Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee or Make-a-Wish Foundation or a charity of your choice.