William J. Foley, 73,of Manchester, New Hampshire, died peacefully at Catholic Medical Center on October 17, 2008 after a lengthy illness. Foley was a former Linotype machinist for the Pawtucket Times and later built a career as a sales representative of newspaper hardware and software.
Son of the late William F. and Harriet (Pride) Foley of Pawtucket, RI, Foley grew up in Pawtucket and attended St. Raphael’s Academy. He later attended Brown University and the University of Rhode Island before serving in the United States Navy during the Korean War era. Following his years at the Pawtucket Times, and several geographic moves, he settled in New Hampshire in the early 1970s. In his work for Composition Systems, Inc., selling computer systems to large newspapers, Foley’s territory encompassed New England, New York, and Canada’s eastern provinces. In the 1990s he and his partner Jamie Torregiani founded Foley, Torregiani & Associates, Inc. which sold hardware and software to large newspapers throughout the world. He retired in 1998.
Active in civic affairs in Londonderry, NH, Bill was elected Town and/or School District Moderator and served for over twenty years overseeing elections and chairing all meetings of the Town and School District. Mr. Foley was also a member of the Londonderry Housing and Redevelopment Authority, responsible for all industrial development, particularly around the airport. In recognition of his efforts in the community, Mr. Foley was named Londonderry Citizen of the Year in 1985.
He is survived by his wife Judith M. (McDonald) Foley of Manchester, NH as well as his five children: Tony of Manchester, NH; Erin Foley Mocharnuk of Springfield, IL; Kurt of Warwick, RI; Michael of Brooklyn, NY; and Kathleen Holmes of Derry, NH; seven grandchildren and brother Stephen Foley of Norwood, MA.
Avid sailors, Mr. and Mrs. Foley sailed their 32 ft. Bristol sloop along the New England Coast from their homeport in Middletown, RI before moving the boat to Freeport, ME.
After they retired in 1998, Mr. & Mrs. Foley purchased a motor home and traveled “full-time” for 4 ½ years throughout the US and Canada, visiting all 48 states and the adjoining Canadian provinces. At the end of that period, they moved the motor home to Port Clyde, ME, where they worked for the Monhegan Boat Line for four summers.
A celebration of Bill’s life is planned for 2:00 PM on Sunday, October 26 at the Lions Hall, 256 Mammoth Road, Londonderry, NH. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to a charity to be announced at the celebration. For more information please visit www.bouffordfuneralhome.com.
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