Robert Paul “Bob” Foley, Sr., passed away peacefully surrounded by family on February 9, 2026. He leaves his beloved wife, Machiko, with whom he shared almost 40 years of marriage.
Bob was born on March 28, 1939, in Holyoke, Massachusetts, the youngest son of the late Timothy J. and Vivian (Mettey) Foley. He graduated from Saint Jerome High School, Holyoke Junior College, American International College and Westfield State Teachers College. He was predeceased by his brothers, John Foley of Holyoke and Edward Foley of Agawam.
Bob was first married to Margaret LaFramboise (now Wendlandt), with whom he had three sons: Kip Foley of Rhode Island, Tim Foley of Feeding Hills, and Robert “Bob” Foley, Jr., of Grafton, who predeceased him.
A lifelong history buff, educator, and proud Democrat, Bob taught history at Holyoke High School in the 1960s where he was a favorite of students. He was deeply engaged in public life. He ran for Massachusetts State Senate in 1970 and served as a delegate to several Democratic National Conventions and served as the Director of the Holyoke Council on Aging. Later in his career, Bob shifted his focus to business, serving as Director of Marketing for the architectural and engineering firm Reinhardt & Associates of Springfield, Mass. and later as the president of Resource Control, Inc., headquartered in Barre, Massachusetts, a pioneering environmental service company that specialized in assisting municipalities navigate emerging requirements associated with the Clean Water Act. After divesting Resource Control, Bob served as an angel investor in several technology startups.
Bob had a true zest for life. He loved skiing, tennis, golf, traveling, and spending time with family and close friends, particularly at his homes in Stowe, Vermont, and Nantucket. Always the life of the party, he made friends easily and was a close friend to many. In retirement, he returned to one of his greatest passions—teaching. Bob volunteered at a local community college, where he delighted students with his knowledge of history and his trademark humor and storytelling.
In addition to his wife Machiko, Bob is survived by his children and grandchildren: Kip Foley and his wife Jodi Cutler and their sons Ben (and his wife Taylor) and Sam Foley; Tim Foley and his wife Janice and their daughter Lauren Foley; the family of his late son Bob, Jr.: Ann Marie Foley and their children Robert P. Foley III and Caileen M. Foley; his stepchildren Veronica Miller and her husband Peter and their children Wesley and his wife Cynthia, Bridget and her husband Alex, and Christopher; Cindy Wall-Sulewski and her husband Brad; and Bill Richards and Sheileen Coggins, and many great-grandchildren.
Bob will be remembered for his humor and devotion to friends. A celebration of life will be held in his honor this summer. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.