Foley, Dr. Geoffrey

Dr. Geoffrey Foley passed away on July 22, 2024 at the age of 77. He was born in Portsmouth, England in 1947 to the late Audrey and Malcolm Foley. He is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Lois; adoring children, Heather (Marco Smolowyk), Andrew (Heather), and Nick; and precious grandchildren Ryan (20) and Andrew (16) Smolowyk and Jack (13) and Evelyn (7) Foley. Geoff is also survived by his beloved sisters, Rosemary and Jane (Richard); nephews Rory (Amy) and Kit (Cristina), niece Lois (Andy), and grand-nieces, Imogen (3), and Isla (9 months). 

Geoff was a student at Portsmouth Grammar School until 1965 when he went off to university at Oxford to pursue a degree in Physics. During his freshman year he met the love of his life, Lois, an American student studying abroad at Oxford. Following his graduation in 1968, he emigrated to the United States to study solid state physics at the University of Pennsylvania. Happily, Geoff and Lois were married in Manhasset, NY in the summer of 1969. In 1975, Geoff took a post-doctoral position at the University of Pennsylvania and in 1977 moved the family to Rochester, NY. There he began what would be a 30 year career at Xerox, first as an individual contributor and subsequently in several different managerial roles in the photoreceptor organization. He was ultimately responsible for the worldwide development and manufacture of the imaging drums found in the company’s copiers and printers. Serendipitously, his role brought him back to Europe on a regular basis which allowed for cherished visits with his family in the UK. 

In addition to Geoff’s regular assignments, he enthusiastically pursued other career enrichment opportunities. Of note, he took a leadership role in teaching problem-solving and the importance of properly documenting inventions. By the end of his career, Geoff was able to count himself as author or coauthor of more than eighty United States patents. In addition, he completed executive programs at both the Rochester Institute of Technology and Harvard University. The Harvard experience was particularly memorable, especially when at the conclusion of the program, his fellow executives asked him to be class speaker at the graduation ceremonies. 

Throughout his life, Geoff was a man of many interests. In his younger years, Geoff was an avid sportsman, and was captain of his tennis, hockey, and badminton teams. He was particularly proud to have earned his Half Blue in badminton while at Oxford. While his children were young, Geoff also enthusiastically led an Odyssey of the Mind Fairport team for his ten year old son and his teammates to win third place at the National competition. After a life as an active and healthy individual however, Geoff was diagnosed in 2002 with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, a rare lung disease with a bleak outlook for survival. Close to death in early 2005, Geoff was blessed to receive a double lung transplant at the Cleveland Clinic. He always held immense gratitude to the individual and family who selflessly gifted him the opportunity to continue the journey of the life he so loved. 

With a renewed lease on life, Geoff lived another 19 years, delighting in this additional time that allowed him to see his son Andrew marry, his grandson Ryan grow up, and witness the arrival of three additional grandchildren. In addition to these joys, Geoff was a man of strong faith and relished his participation with Christ Episcopal Church as a lay reader, Vestry member, and Board Treasurer. He was also passionate about educating others about the importance of organ donation by speaking at local schools and church groups, and served as President of the Rochester Transplant Awareness Organization of Rochester. 

In addition to these volunteer roles, Geoff’s inquisitive mind led him to various literary pursuits. For many years until his passing, he took great pleasure in his weekly book club meetings with dear friends at a local diner (with participation we suspect being at least as much for the breakfast as for the discussion of the latest book), relishing the camaraderie and thoughtful discussions. He also had strong interest in learning about his ancestry, and invested years researching his family’s Irish history and forming new connections with family members. Geoff constructed a comprehensive ancestry book liberally illustrated with old family photos, which he gifted to family members. Geoff had always been committed to documenting the days and lives of his family over the years, and in his younger years was often seen following the family around with a movie camera. In his retirement years, Geoff spent considerable time digitizing, editing, and archiving the numerous family movies and images preserving these cherished moments of family life forever. 

In Geoff’s words, “Family, without question, has been the most meaningful part of my life, my raison d’etre.” As he conveyed regularly, he firmly believed he won the Grand Prize in the Sweepstakes of Life: devoted parents, a great education, good friends, and family on both sides of the Atlantic who loved him and whom he cherished deeply. Although he was excited to officially attain his US citizenship, he always remained immensely proud of his British heritage. Likewise, he held deep affection and gratitude to the United States, his adopted country, which was very good to him over more than fifty years. 

Geoff’s love of family, good humor, and zest for life will be profoundly missed. He was deeply treasured by his family who could not have felt more blessed to have traveled this journey of life with him. They know with the love and memories they have shared he will remain with them always.

Calling Hours Friday August 9, 2024 4-6PM at the Richard H. Keenan Funeral Home (Egypt Location) 7501 Pittsford Palmyra Road, Fairport. Funeral Service Saturday August 10, 2024 10AM at Christ Church 36 South Main Street, Pittsford.

In lieu of flowers, please consider to donations to the following organizations:Cleveland Clinic Transplant CenterPerinton AmbulanceDonate LIfe