James Edward Foley Jr.
James Edward Foley, Jr. of Dennisport, formerly of Milton, died unexpectedly at the age of 64, at Morton Hospital, Taunton.
Born in Boston on January 1, 1948 he was the son of the late James E. Foley and Therese R. ( Cronin) Foley. He was a graduate of St. Mary’s High School in Brookline, Class of 1966. He later graduated from Suffolk University with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1975 and a Masters in Public Administration in 1978.
James retired from the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health in 2004, after over 26 years of service. One of his most rewarding professional accomplishments was his involvement in the designing, developing, implementing and directing a clinical system of care in response to an adolescent/cluster suicide crisis. This initiative was successful and has been reviewed by other states, as well as the Republic of Ireland for use in urban trauma and “adolescent/cluster suicide” situations.
James received numerous awards during his career among them being, “Pride in Performance” from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, “Outstanding Metro Boston Employee Award for Performance and Contributions on behalf of Consumers and Employees,” from the Dept. of Mental Health, Metro Boston Area, “Outstanding Services and Leadership provided to the Greater Boston Community,” from the Massachusetts Association for Mental Health and the “Commitment to Young People of South Boston” from the New England Medical Center.
Since James’ retirement and until the time of his death, he worked as a managerial consultant for various Mental Health Agencies. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Association of Mental Health.
He was the beloved husband of Michele Ann (Fitzmaurice) Foley. Devoted father of Meghan F. Foley and her husband, Errol Gaudette of Scituate, Brother of Leo P. Foley and his wife Dorothy of Franklin, and Kevin P. Foley of Dennis. Uncle of Kathleen and Conor Foley of IL., Leo P. Foley, Jr. of Bellingham and Corrine Moran of Franklin. Brother in law of Edward Fitzmaurice of Milton and Jean Fitzmaurice of Holbrook.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in St. Agatha Church, Adams Street at Brook Road, Milton, Friday, September 21 at 10:30 am. Relatives and friends are invited. Visiting hours at Dolan Chapman Funeral Home, 5 Canton Avenue, MILTON VILLAGE, Thursday 4 – 8 pm. Interment St. Mary’s Cemetery, Scituate..
If desired contributions in James’ name may be sent to either St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Way, Memphis, TN 38105, or to the Massachusetts Association of Mental Health, 130 Bowdoin St., Suite 309, Boston, MA 02108.
Guestbook Entries
Dear Shelly and Meghan,
Patty and I are very sorry for your loss. Jimmy was a great cousin and a great man. You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.
Sincerely,
Patty and Marty Cronin
My deepest sympathy to the Foley Family. It was my honor to have worked with Jim at both DMH and Elder Affairs. He also helped my daughter when she had difficulties in her teen years. My thoughts and prayers go out to you. His death leaves so many with a heavy heart. RIP Mr. Foley
Our love and prayers are with you. Linda & George Sullo
Sorry to hear about your unexpected loss of James Foley. I had the pleasure to work with him in the years with DMH.
We have just gotten re-aqquainted again after I have left Metro Boston in 1996 to work at Taunton State Hospital.
Then seen Jim again when he just recently returned TSH. Pleasurable man to know.
Cherish those memories of Jim – these memories will help get through this difficult time of your chapter in life.
Again sorry for your loss – but go and celebrate his life.
You are in my thoughts and prayers. Lynne
I want to express my sincere sorrow over Jim’s death. I knew Jim at the Solomon Carter Fuller Mental Health Center and experienced his kindness and great care of the mentally ill clients at the Center. He was a wonderful person and a great mentor to so many during his life.
I send my thoughts and prayers to the Foley family during this difficult time. He had a kind, caring, respectful, presence that will not be forgotten.
Dear Shelly and Maghan, Nancy and I send our thoughts and prayers for you and your family in this time of sorrow. We are really sorry to hear about Jim and your loss.
My deepest sympathies for your great loss. Jimmy was such a wonderful compassionate person. You are all in my thoughts and prayers. His memory will live on thru your hearts………
Shelly,
Our deepest sympathies go out to you,Meghan, Kevin and Leo. Jan and I have you in our thoughts and prayers.
Although we worked together at DMH, it was not until we worked together at Elder Affairs that I had the opportunity to get to know Jim better. I am grateful to have had the pleasure to befriend Jim.
He was always so kind and helpful. Jim will be missed.
Our hearts are heavy with sorrow…we will miss our friend, Jimmy.
The Mead family
I want to express my deepest sympathy to the Foley Family for their loss. I had the honor to work with Jim at both the DMH SE Regional Office and most recently at Taunton State Hospital. He was truly a special person who will be greatly missed.
My sincere sympathy to Michele,Meghan, Jim’s Family & Friends in such a sudden and great loss. Prayers and thoughts are with you.
It was a pleasure meeting Jim on the golf course. He was a gentleman in every sense of the word. Shelly, our prayers are with you and Meghan during a most difficult time. Sally and Jim
Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Others stay for a while and leave footprints on our heart. Jim Foley’s footprints are on the hearts of his family, everyone he blessed with his friendship and loyalty and all whose lives he touched and helped during his long career at the Department of Mental Health.
Jim was part of a bureaucracy, but he was not about the bureaucracy. Jim was about the clients, about those who wanted to become clients, and about those who wanted to help the clients. Jim was always ready to help; ready to remove a barrier, move the paperwork, make a call, provide information, work on a solution, develop a strategy, whatever it took to help an individual, help a family, or help a provider. I can’t ever remember him saying no.
To paraphrase David Harkins, British Poet and printer: We can shed tears that Jim is gone or we can smile because he has lived.
I have no doubt Jim would want us to do the latter, but it will take me a few more days to get there.
Godspeed, my friend, and God’s love to Jim’s family and friends.
Tim O’Leary, MA Association for Mental Health
I wish to extend my heartfelt sympathy to the Foley family for their sudden loss. I knew Jim while he worked at TSH. He was such a great person to have worked with. He will be sadly missed.
My thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.
To the family of Jim:
I was shocked to hear of Jims passing–Jim was part of my professional life in DMH for over 15 years. I think I have known him in a particularly unique way –we were colleagues and then later he worked for me and yet later I worked for him. In all three ways I appreciated respected and admired Jim very much. He was a person with compassion and a person that you could count on. Although I have not seen him since I retired over 10 yrs ago, I feel a loss of a friend and a colleague and work companion. Jim made his mark with all whom he met and am sure will be well remembered by all. My deep felt sorrow and condolences to his family. Lew
Jimmy was such a supportive and good man. Shelley and Meghan, my thoughts and prayers are with you. I will miss him. Julie
A true, compassionate individual, words do not express his accomplishments!
My hearfelt sympathy to the family.
To The Entire Foley Family,
I am shocked and saddened to hear of Jim’s passing. I considered him a mentor and friend and really valued working with him at DMH and ELD. I hope that you are finding comfort in memories of him. Please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers at this difficult time.
Mary F. Connelly
Charlestown
I knew Jim professionally and he was a man of honor, professionalism, and he cared. His work and advocacy on behalf of individuals with mental illness is a testament to all of us who work in this field. Godspeesd to him in his final resting place and my hearfelt condolences to his family.
With Jim gone there will be a large space vacant on the day before the Thanksgiving banquet for our clients. It won’t be the same. Jim has always been a friend to the Friends. Our prayers are with you.
Peggy, Mary & Kenny
I am so sad at the passing of Jimmy. He was a great guy and will be sorely missed by all who knew him. I went to Italy with Jimmy, his family and his sister-in-law, my good friend Jean. We had so much fun and he was the best guide I ever had on any of my trips. What a knowlegeable man, he knew everything. Want to know who built something, who painted something, who destroyed something – ask Jimmy! I enjoyed him in life and all who greeted him where he is now will enjoy him for eternity.
Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you – Foleys and Megan and Errol – We are so sorry for the loss of such a kind and caring humanitarian! He did amazing things and saved lives. All his good works speak for themselves and testify to his love for all. As the Bible says “by their fruits, you shall know them”.
Love,
Mitch, Kim & Jordan Gormley
To Shelly, Maghan and Foley family,
My sincerest condolences to all of you, words cannot express the sudden loss of this wonderful caring person. He will be missed deeply.
Assunta Licata
Shelly
Ginny just told me of Jim’s passing. My heart goes out to your and all your family. You are in my prayers and thoughts.Much too soon for such a great fella!!