John Francis Foley, 68, of Tolland, beloved husband of Rena (Barselau) Foley, passed away Monday, December 10, 2012 at his home in Tolland. John was born April 7, 1944 in Hartford the son of the late Frank and Helen (Brignole) Foley. He graduated from Hartford High School in 1962. On September 4th, 1964 he married Rena Barselau Foley in Hartford. John was employed by the Metropolitan District Commission until he followed in his father’s footsteps and became a Connecticut State Trooper in 1968. He served the state of Connecticut proudly as a dog handler and a resident state trooper in the town of Tolland. He retired honorably as a Sergeant at Troop C, in Tolland in 1997. His love for law enforcement continued as he guided his many family members who chose the same profession. He also served in the Connecticut Air National Guard from 1962 to 1988 at Bradley Field, in Windsor Locks. John also enjoyed spending time with his many family and friends at his cottage on Black Point Beach in Niantic, Connecticut. John was an avid Fisherman and was a member both the Rockville and Coventry Fish & Game Clubs. He educated children about water pollution and fishing through the Connecticut Aquatic Resource Education Program and he loved teaching his own grandchildren about his love for fishing. In November of 1999, John was a founding father of the Connecticut State Police Emerald Society and served as their secretary. He was the very first recipient of the Connecticut State Police Emerald Society “Irishman of the Year” award. He was also a proud member of the Hartford Police Emerald Society Besides his wife Rena of 47 years, John is survived by his children and their spouses, Laura and Matthew Ryan, Karen and John O’Connor and Brian Foley and his wife Monique. He loved and cherished his grandchildren Bridget, Lily, Mick, Matthew, John, Jack and Sarah. He is also survived by his sisters Patricia Angelo and Deborah Kaup and her husband Edward Kaup. He had many loving, nieces, nephews and extended family. John was a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend to all.
Friends may gather for a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Matthew’s Church at 111 Tolland Green, in Tolland, Friday December 14, 2012, at 10AM. Burial with military honors will follow in South Cemetery in Tolland Relatives and friends may join the family Thursday, from 3 to 7 PM at the Tolland Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Merrow Road (RT 195) Tolland. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in John’s name may be made to the Hartford Hospital Transplant and Liver Center, Rm 320, 85 Seymour St., Hartford, CT 06106 or the Juvenile Diabetes Program at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, 282 Washington St., Hartford, CT 06106.

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