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Sylvester Robert Foley Jr. (September 19, 1928 - December 31, 2019)

Admiral Sylvester Robert "Bob" Foley, Jr., passed away peacefully on December 31, 2019, in Chester MD. Adm. Foley was born in Manchester, NH, on September 19, 1928. Throughout his 91 years he was a distinguished naval officer, courageous combat aviator, and well-respected public servant and business leader. More importantly, he was a loving husband and father, a mentor to many, and fully blessed with the Irish disposition towards good humor and fellowship. A Distinguished Graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Class of 1950, Adm. Foley served in the Navy for 35 years. He received his Naval Aviator's wings in 1951, and rose quickly through the ranks, holding seven operational commands in peacetime and war during his distinguished Navy career, including command of Attack Squadron 106 and Carrier Air Wing Eleven during combat deployments in Vietnam, Commanding Officer of USS Coronado, Commanding Officer of USS Midway during his third Vietnam combat deployment, Commander of Carrier Group Seven, Commander of the U.S. Seventh Fleet, and Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. His awards include three Navy Distinguished Service Medals, the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, and multiple Air Medals. He also holds the Secretary of Energy's Gold Medal for Distinguished Service. His foreign decorations include Japan's Order of the Rising Sun (First Class), the French Legion of Honor, Vietnamese Medals for Gallantry (three levels), Brazil's Order of Merit, and several decorations from the Republic of Korea. Adm. Foley retired from the Navy in 1985, at which point he served as President Ronald Reagan's Assistant Secretary of Energy for Defense Programs, where he had responsibility for the nation's nuclear weapons complex. In 1988, Adm. Foley entered the private sector and was named President of the Advanced Technology Group at ICF Kaiser Engineers. In 1991, he joined the Raytheon Company, where he served as Vice President of Marketing, President of Raytheon Japan, and Vice President of Raytheon Asia. After retiring from Raytheon, Foley served as a senior consultant to the Departments of Defense and Energy, and was a member of President George W. Bush's energy and defense transition teams. In 2003, Adm. Foley was appointed the University of California's Vice President for Laboratory Management. In this role, Adm. Foley had responsibility for the University's oversight and management at three national laboratories: Los Alamos, Lawrence Livermore, and Lawrence Berkeley. Adm. Foley was a stalwart member of the Bohemian Club and Pacific Union Club, both of San Francisco, CA. Adm. Foley earned a Master's degree in International Affairs from the George Washington University, graduated from the Naval War College, and was recognized as a Distinguished Graduate of the Air War College. Adm. Foley was married to the late Kathleen MacDonald Foley for 50 years, by whom he was preceded in death. He is survived by his four children: LCOL Sylvester Robert Foley, III USMC (Ret.), of Deerfield, NH; Maureen Foley Nunez of Falmouth, MA; Dr. Brenda Kathleen Foley, of Brattleboro, VT; and Christopher M. Foley, Esq., of Winnetka, IL; sons-in law Guillermo Nunez and Kevin Gardner; daughters-in-law Margaret Foley and Elisabeth Foley; 10 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his second wife, the former Ellen Kirkconnell Rogers, and her extended family. His friends, shipmates, and colleagues are legion, and he will be missed by all. Services will take place Friday January 10, at 10:30 am at the U.S. Naval Academy Chapel in Annapolis, MD, followed by interment at the Naval Academy Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the U.S. Naval Academy Foundation Athletic & Scholarship Program, https://www.usna.com/asp

Published in The Capital Gazette on Jan. 9, 2020