Joseph "Bill" William Foley

Joseph William Foley (Bill) beloved husband, father, grandfather, uncle, brother, coach, teacher, and cherished friend, passed peacefully on August 22nd after a lengthy and courageous struggle with Alzheimer’s Disease.

Born in Tina, Missouri, his family moved to Chula Vista when he was a toddler. An active, sports enthusiast his entire life, he became a multi-sport athlete at Chula Vista High School, until he focused solely on basketball, a focus that made him a top scorer and the Metro League Player-of-the-Year in 1959. Success with the Spartans led him to Baker University in Baldwin, Kansas where he played and starred in both basketball and tennis for the Baker Wildcats. A Baker graduate in 1964, he later earned a Master’s of Science in Physiology and Exercise from the University of Illinois in 1965. His greatest find while in Baker, however, was the discovery and courtship of Sue Shemwell. Their marriage in December of 1962, established a partnership that would last 59 treasured years. That blessed partnership produced to beloved daughters, Carrie and Cammie.

The coupled returned to Bill’s hometown, where in Chula Vista he secured a teaching/coaching position at Castle Park High School, the start of a 43-year career in education that would lead him within two years to Bonita Vista High School in 1966. There, he served as the school’s head basketball coach, cross-country coach, and tennis coach, while teaching high school mathematics. Championship teams followed, until he was called to coach at Southwestern College in 1979. There he led the Jaguars/Apaches to several championships in both basketball and tennis. But he never lost his love for mathematics and taught algebra and calculus to college students.

Bill eventually left basketball to pursue tennis full-time, both at Southwestern College and privately. A backyard tennis court at his residence provided an outlet, as well as participation at Folsom’s and Barnes’s Youth Tennis Centers. After retiring from coaching at Southwestern, Bill started Total Tennis Training, a youth tennis development program, and later had a hand in teaching many of Southern California’s best youth players. Bill served as a board member of the San Diego Tennis Patrons, and served the USTA as a member of their sports science committee.

In 2007, Bill retired from Southwestern College to enjoy spending more time with friends and family. He golfed and traveled with his wife, Sue, saw more of his daughters, and perfected ‘doting’ as the grandfather to six grandkids. Love came as easily to him as his smile.

Bill lived a rich and happy life filled with kindness towards others, humor, and unquestioned goodwill. Bill’s faith in God, gratitude for life, and positive attitude never wavered, even into the early years of his illness. He loved heartily, lived each day to the fullest, and took every opportunity to let his family know how much he loved them.

Bill is pre-deceased by his mother, Betty, and father, Joseph. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Sue, and his two daughters, Carrie (John) Shields of Vero Beach, Florida, and Cammie (Pete) Cassiano of Long Beach, California. He is also survived by his six grandchildren, Jack, Caleigh, Molly, Kate, Luke, and Jack. Bill is also survived by five half-siblings: Jack (Brenda) Schreiner, of Lawrence, Kansas; Linda (Dave) Nistler, of Squires, Missouri; Pat (Allen) White of Katy, Texas; Kathy (Stan) Stauffer, of Blaine, Washington; and Jolene (Tom) Weir of Salida, Colorado; along with several nieces and nephews.

Celebration of life services will be held on Saturday, September 24th, 2pm. at Little Chapel of the Roses in Glen Abbey, in Bonita. The service will also be live-streamed for those unable to make it in person - https://memoryafilms.com/foley/

In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations be made to Glenner Town Square, an Alzheimer’s adult day care center - DONATE – The George G. Glenner Alzheimer’s Family Centers, Inc.® in memory of Bill Foley.