Joseph Foley, 98, recalled fondly
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Joseph Foley |
Toolbox
By Gordon Dritschilo Staff Writer - Published: November 20, 2009
Descriptions of Joseph Foley tend to include words like "quiet," "taciturn" and "reserved."
They also consistently included the words "good" and "gentleman."
Foley died Wednesday at the age of 98. Born and raised in Rutland, he touched many of the city's institutions and helped build one of its most prominent businesses.
"He was probably the kindest, most reasonable person," said Rutland lawyer Thomas Dowling, a friend and business associate. "He participated in and contributed to everything."
Dowling remembered Foley as an early supporter of the Rutland Industrial Development Corp., a forerunner of the Rutland Economic Development Corp. Foley also served on the board of the Rutland Hospital when it moved from Nichols Street to Allen Street.
A graduate of Rutland High School in 1929, Foley cut his education at Notre Dame University short to return and take over the family business after his father died. His brother, John, also abandoned plans and returned to Rutland.
"I think they had a real sense of duty to their mom and their sisters to keep the business going," said Joan Wing, a former associate. "He gave up his career, whatever that was going to be, but I don't think he was ever sorry that he did that."
Wing also recalled how Foley always made time for his wife, setting aside an hour a day when they would just sit and talk, and said that he and his brother John, who died in 2007, were best friends.
"They used to be the first people out on Sunday mornings," said Hank Vergi, who met the Foley brothers when he became the golf pro at the Rutland County Club in 1963. "I'd be out at 6:30 and they'd be there already."
Vergi said they were always fun to talk to.
"They never played competitively," he said. "They just went out and played golf the way it should be, for enjoyment."
Joseph O'Rourke, whose pharmacist father brought his white lab coats to Foley's laundry, said he remembered Foley as a friendly presence at the shop.
"The local laundry back then was like the local coffee shop," O'Rourke said. "He knew the people, knew his customers."
Dowling said the family business was perhaps Foley's proudest legacy. Foley's obituary described Foley Services as the longest-running, family-owned business in Vermont.
"They were delighted to see how (his son) Mark grew the business since he took it over," he said. "I think we wanted to see it grow and expand and Mark did exactly that."
Sign the guest book at http://www.rutlandherald.com/foley
gordon.dritschilo@rutlandherald.com
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