It is with sadness I write of the death of my father, Admiral Sylvester Robert Foley, Jr.
He was predeceased by my mother, Kathleen Foley, to whom he was married for almost fifty years and is survived by his four children and ten grandchildren. Bob began his military career as a graduate of the Naval Academy in 1950 and retired following his posting as Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet. Among his many commendations, he was awarded three Distinguished Service Medals, Japan’s Order of the Rising Sun, the French Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, and the Distinguished Flying Cross. He was honored as a Distinguished Graduate of the Naval Academy in 2012. Upon his retirement, Bob served as Assistant Secretary of Energy for Defense, President of Raytheon Japan, and Vice President for Laboratory Management at the University of California with oversight at Los Alamos, Lawrence Berkeley, and Lawrence Livermore.
Bob was the first person in his family to attend college and graduate school, earning an MA in international affairs from George Washington University. He was extremely proud of the academic success of his children, all of whom earned graduate degrees. A highlight of his life was standing with his daughter, Maureen, as she graduated in the pioneering class of women at the Naval Academy in 1980.
Dad taught us to be voracious readers, appreciate a good bottle of wine, and face life’s challenges with courage and conviction. He will be very much missed.
Link to news article in the Maryland Capital Gazette: https://www.capitalgazette.com/news/ac-cn-foley-obit-202001010-20200109-x2olrjrqmbee3k4cyzgsqfp4mu-story.html
Brenda Foley 