Obituary of Robert J. Foley

Olmstedville: Bob Foley of Irishtown, passed away peacefully from cancer at the age of 82 on September 11, 2015 at his home. Bob is survived by his wife, Brenda Mytelka Foley, children Charles (Susan) and Kerry (A.J.), and three grandchildren Ian, Jasper and Jade. He is also survived by his cousins Deidre O’Brien VonFuchs (Stephen), Ellen O’Brien and Charles O’Brien, sister Margaret Giovine Zaidman, brother-in-law Alan Mytelka (Sheila), and nephews Andrew (Kim) and Craig (Meg). After serving in the Marine Corps, where he was stationed at Pearl Harbor, Bob earned his B.A. in Geography from Clark University in Mass., and his M.A. in History Education from Queens College. He taught Social Studies for 6 years in New York City and for 22 years at Elwood School District in Huntington, Long Island. While teaching in New York City, he also taught English and Citizenship in the evenings to immigrants. Throughout his career Bob happily spent summers and vacation time at his cabin in Irishtown, close to where he spent summers during his childhood. After retirement, Bob and Brenda turned their vacation cabin into their permanent residence. Once settled in Irishtown, both Bob and Brenda became active members of the community, participating in Our Town Theatre Group. Some of Bob’s notable performances were Dr. Gibb in Thornton Wilder’s Our Town, Richard Stanley in Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman’s The Man Who Came to Dinner and Wilhelm Furtwängler in Ronald Harwood’s Taking Sides. Additionally, Bob was very involved in the Minerva and the Johnsburg Historical Societies, the Town of Johnsburg Library, the Minerva Service Organization, and the Building Team for Minerva Central School. He was a Life Member of the Marine Corps League. Among other organizations, he supported the American Federation of Teachers, Amnesty International, the Democratic Party, the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Jackson Hole, WY Historical Society. Bob loved the theatre, classic movies, Bing Crosby, Jonathan Winters and was always reading or viewing documentaries about American History and WWII. An avid outdoorsman, Bob could always be found walking on the local roads and trails or snowshoeing, while enjoying the forests and nature. Bob will be interred in the Irishtown Cemetery near his mother Kathleen (Leighton) Giovine and his grandparents Charles and Honore Leighton. Please join family and friends to celebrate Bob’s life at Garnet Hill Lodge in North River on Sunday, September 20th at 1:00 PM. In honor of Bob’s memory, in lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to the Friends of the Town of Johnsburg Library, Our Town Theatre Group or High Peaks Hospice. Please visit www.alexanderfh.net for online guest book and condolences.