John Foley
John (Jack) Foley passed away peacefully at the Vicars Landing Windsor Health Center in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida on February 10, 2021.
Jack was born in Boston on March 30, 1934 to Joseph and Louise Foley. His father’s military service and subsequent career led to several family relocations as Jack was growing up. He graduated from Chicago’s Sullivan High School in 1953. He then enlisted in the Army as a Corporal at Fort Chaffee in Arkansas and followed with 6 years service in the Army Reserve. With the GI Bill, Jack attended Southwest Missouri State University graduating in 1960 Summa Cum Laude with a BS in Communications. His years at SMS became the launching pad for Jack’s career in marketing, advertising and public relations. He excelled in all aspects of communications and was a leader for the school’s debate team which competed successfully in numerous debate tournaments against colleges across the country. After graduating from SMS, Jack completed course work towards a Masters degree in Advertising at Michigan State University in Lansing, Michigan. Jack began his career in communications at the Bloomfield Hills, MI branch of D’Arcy, Macmanus and Masius. Over the next 35 years he worked in a variety of marketing roles for
several advertising and public relations agencies including serving as the President and COO of the Gray and Rogers Agency in Philadelphia. He concluded his career as Senior Vice President and Director of Business Development for the NW Ayer advertising agency in New York City.
Jack met his wife, Sue, in Norwalk CT. in 1987 and they were married in 1989. A few years later Jack retired and Sue’s career took the couple to London for four years and then to St. Louis, MO. When Sue retired in 2000 the couple moved to
Sawgrass Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. They moved to Vicars Landing in Ponte Vedra Beach in 2019.
Jack loved fishing and was an avid and competitive golfer. Jack and Sue traveled extensively over the course of their marriage and retirement. Family was a top priority for Jack who kept in constant contact with his three children, parents and siblings. Jack’s greatest passion was listening to other peoples’ life stories - he was fascinated by the mosaic of lives and could remember incredible detail. He enjoyed relating stories that brought the people and events he described to life for his listeners.
Jack is survived by his wife of 32 years Sue, son Zack (Anna), children from his first marriage Craig (Molly), Daryl Elder (Bill), step sister Trish, niece Jacqueline, and grandchildren Matt, Josh and Nic Foley and Samantha and Jack Elder. He is preceded in death by his brother Bill Foley.
A celebration of Jack’s life will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests
donations in Jack’s honor to an institution dear to his heart, the Florida School for the Deaf and
Blind in St. Augustine, FL (fsdbk12.org). Please visit the online Tribute at www.quinnshalz.com.
Arrangements by Quinn-Shalz Family Funeral Home & Cremation Centre, Jacksonville Beach, FL. (904)249-1100