Paul J. Foley

HOLDEN - Paul J. Foley, 87, of Holden died on Monday, November 3, 2014, at UMass Memorial Medical Center after a brief illness. Born and raised in Worcester, Paul was the son of Edmund F. and Katherine R. (Leahy) Foley and lived 59 years in Holden.

Paul is survived by his wife of 64 years, Jane I. (Lindstrom) Foley; a son, Brian P. Foley and his wife, Darlene of Holden; two daughters, Beth J. Foley of Hamilton and Paula J. Paquette and her husband, William of Hubbardston; four grandchildren, Ryan P. and Caitlin E. Foley and Nicole and April Paquette; and two great-grandchildren. Paul is predeceased by his brother, Edmund F. Foley, Jr.

He graduated from The College of the Holy Cross in 1950 and later from Harvard University Business School’s 51st Advanced Management Program. Paul was a Senior Vice President at Safety Fund National Bank. Previously, he was Vice President at State Mutual Life Assurance Co. in Worcester and President of the Massachusetts Bankers Association in Boston.

Paul was an active business executive and formerly held the following positions: trustee at Williams College School of Banking and the American Charitable Trusts; Corporator of Old Sturbridge Village, Hahnemann Hospital and Consumers Savings Bank; director at Big Brothers of Worcester County, Colonial Distributors in Boston, NFIC Holding Co. in New York, SMA Equities Corp and American Variable Annuity Life Insurance Co.; and served as vice president at WSMW – TV Channel 27; and vice chairman of Worcester Business Development Corp. He also served on the Advisory Council of Clark University’s MBA Program, board of directors of the Children Friends Society, Worcester Historical Society and the National Administrative Society, Holden Finance Committee and the Public Relations Committee at Holy Cross College.

Paul honorably served his country during World War II as a pharmacist mate in the U.S. Navy. He was passionate about golf and had aced four hole in ones. He was a lifetime member of Worcester Country Club. Paul’s sense of responsibility, determination, and high ideals are characteristics of his generation which was coined the “The Greatest Generation.” Although at times his expectations of others seemed unreasonably high, he cared very much for those he loved and encouraged his family, friends and colleagues to be ‘the best version of themselves.” He was proud of his children and their many accomplishments and will be lovingly missed by his wife, children, grandchildren and friends.

Relatives and friends are welcome to remember and honor Paul’s life by visiting with his family between the hours of 1:30 and 4 p.m. on Saturday, November 8, at Worcester Country Club, 2 Rice Street, Worcester. A private funeral service with military honors will be held at Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main Street, Holden, followed by interment at Grove Cemetery in Holden. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Worcester Animal Rescue League, 139 Holden Street, Worcester, MA 01606 or to the Gale Free Library, 23 Highland Street, Holden, MA 01520. To share a memory or leave his family an online condolence, please visit our "Guest Book" on our site.