


Robert P. Foley 80, of Brunswick, ME, died peacefully, Sunday May 15, 2022. He was born June 25, 1941 in Nashua, NH to Charles and Geneva (Perkins) Foley. Robert graduated from Glenbrook Significant College in Northbrook, IL and ongoing his education at Marlboro Faculty in Vermont, acquiring a degree in 18th Century New England Architecture. In 1963 he married his childhood sweetheart, Polly Sears. In 1963, on a vacation to Newport, RI they transpired upon the Peter Simon Property on Bridge Avenue. He vowed to buy the dwelling and restore it if it at any time came on the industry. In 1964, it did and he and Polly produced good on the assure. Throughout that time they welcomed two little ones, Bradford and Emily. Polly and Robert divorced in 1971. Robert remained in Newport for 48 yrs. He manufactured a dwelling as a marine and architectural photographer, focusing on yacht racing and the America’s Cup in certain, documenting the heyday of the ’80’s and ’90’s when Ted Turner was at the helm of Courageous. He worked mainly in black and white, acquiring and printing substantially of his operate, and promoting it in his Photography Shop on Bowen’s Wharf. Returning to his roots, he documented present ailments and restoration assignments for dozens of 18th century structures obtained by the Newport Restoration Basis (established by Doris Duke). Later on in daily life, Robert landed his aspiration career at NRF as the Director of Preservation. He put in much of his time at Rough Place, meticulously managing restoration assignments throughout the Estate. He overhauled the foundation’s coloration techniques centered on paint analysis and led the effort to generate a databases for the Narragansett Bay basin through dendrochronology, which is the science of dating situations and variations in environment in former intervals by comparative analyze of development rings in trees ands aged wooden. On obtaining the Frederick C. Williamson Award for Skilled Leadership, it was noted “With his unassuming demeanor, Robert’s preservation function has generally taken place behind the scenes or at the rear of the digital camera. But everybody who cares about Newport’s historic character is a beneficiary of his knowledge, skill, and commitment.” He retired in 2016 and appreciated time with his Weimaraner, Jackie, a lot of visits with Brad, Jen, Emily and Polly, and annual journeys to Stonington, ME. Stonington held a unique put in Robert’s coronary heart, just about each and every summer of his existence because childhood was spent there with his beloved sisters (now handed) Eleanor and Barbara. He shared his passion of Kate’s House on the place with Brad, Jen, and their 2 boys, Jameson, and Benjamin for a lot of decades and recently, Emily and Polly had been added into the combine. The custom proceeds and a new generation of Foley’s will love Kate’s House for many a long time to come. A consummate dabbler, Robert liked performing on and driving international sporting activities autos, browsing for intricate product auto assignments and placing them with each other piece by piece, restoration of aged English carousel animals, and obtaining and repairing aged equipment. He was an avid gardener, whose gardens on the corner of Spring and Mill Streets across from Trinity Church in Newport were being photographed by countless numbers above the many years in the Spring, capturing his attractive Purple Tulips, Daffodils, and Purple Irises. He moved to Brunswick, ME in 2020 as dementia set in, residing at Avita of Brunswick.
He is survived by his son Bradford and wife Jennifer Foley of Bowdoinham, ME and his daughter Emily Foley of Sandwich, MA, grandsons, Jameson and wife Ann Foley of Vineland, NJ, and Benjamin Foley of Bend, OR, and a good granddaughter, Charlotte Autumn Foley of Vineland, NJ, and a niece and quite a few nephews on both his predeceased sisters’ side of the relatives. He was predeceased by his sisters, Eleanor Foley Lesieur and Barbara Foley Lesieur and his parents.
In lieu of bouquets all those who want may make a memorial contribution to the Seamen’s Church Institute in Newport, RI, seamensnewport.org. At Robert’s
ask for, there will be no services. To leave a be aware of condolence or share a memory, make sure you stop by www.brackettfh.com.