Thomas F.X. Foley

Thomas F.X. Foley, 78, of Sanibel Island, FL, formerly of Lake Como, NJ and Colts Neck, NJ, died May 30, 2023 in Alexandria, VA, where he was living temporarily after being displaced by Hurricane Ian. Thom was an attorney, a retired municipal court judge who served several municipalities in and near Monmouth County, NJ, and a former mayor of Colts Neck, NJ.

Thom was born January 22, 1945 in New York, NY and was raised in Douglas Manor, NY. He was a natural and talented athlete from a young age, breaking a national record in butterfly at age ten. During his high school years, he spent his summers as a swim coach and lifeguard at the Sands Point (NY) Bath and Tennis Club where he first met Mary O'Callaghan and her family. Ten years later, in August 1970, Thom and Mary married and they would spend the rest of their lives together.

He graduated from Xavier High School in Manhattan and the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA. He was awarded the Crusader of the Year award at his graduation in 1966, the most prestigious student-athlete award given by the Varsity Club of Holy Cross. He was captain of the swim team and member of football and lacrosse teams.

Thom graduated from Seton Hall University School of Law in 1969. He worked as an attorney in Los Angeles and when drafted for the military, he chose to enlist into the United States Marine Corps and was stationed at Camp Pendleton, CA, achieving the rank of Corporal. He served as a lawyer, football player and coach, and mentor to the young marines and wives stationed there, earning their admiration and the nickname "The Reverend Dr. Thom" for his counseling of soldiers and their families during the Vietnam War.

When he returned to New Jersey after his service in the Marine Corps, he worked with his uncle Edward Bowes at Bowes, Milner in Newark, and later became the Executive Director and legal counsel for the NJ Motor Truck Association. He founded his own law practice in Colts Neck, NJ shortly after moving there in 1973, and a few years later co-founded a law partnership, Foley, Shelly and Niemann, in Holmdel, NJ.

He always had a passion for politics and decided to get involved at the local level. He was elected to the Colts Neck Township Committee in 1979, and was appointed as mayor of Colts Neck in 1983.

Thom was first appointed as a municipal court judge in Colts Neck in 1985 and subsequently served as judge in several municipalities in and around Monmouth County, including Freehold Township, Borough of Sea Bright, Hazlet Township, Marlboro Township, Old Bridge Township, and Middletown Township. He was admitted to the state bars of New Jersey and California, the U.S. Supreme Court, Federal Circuit and District Courts. Thom also taught college courses at Rutgers University and Brookdale Community College. After his retirement from municipal courts in 2014, he continued as an arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.

Thom was a parishioner of St. Isabel Catholic Church of Sanibel and previously St. Catharine-St. Margaret Parish of Spring Lake and the Parish of St. Mary, Colts Neck. He was a long-time member of the Spring Lake Bath & Tennis Club, the Sanctuary Golf Club on Sanibel and the Captiva Island Yacht Club.

Throughout his life, Thom was a dedicated and accomplished athlete, competing in local and national swimming, triathlon and USLA lifeguard competitions. His earliest jobs were as a lifeguard and swim coach on Long Island then in Spring Lake. Lifeguard skills and training were a passion that lasted long into his professional career, and he continued to compete with and mentor lifeguards along the Jersey Shore for almost 50 years. His favorite sports included swimming, surf boarding, windsurfing, biking, running and rowing.

He was a dedicated husband and devoted father, who always made time for his children by coaching, even in his suit having come straight from a court, and doing his best to never miss a game or a swim meet.

He was a morally centered jurist, who was dedicated to upholding the law impartially and fairly. He was a proud American and Marine, who was passionate about serving his community, God and his country.

Thom was predeceased by his father John J. Foley, mother Mary Ida "May" (Gallagher) Foley, and his brother Col. Peter K. Foley.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Mary, daughter Myleen Foley Lankford and son in law L. Blaine Lankford of Alexandria, VA, daughter Gretchen Foley Van Brackle and son in law Steven L. Van Brackle of Oakton, VA, son Thomas F.X. Foley II and daughter in law Jean Burke Foley of Old Hickory, TN; seven grandchildren: Meghan, Shannon and Caitlyn Lankford, Heidi and Henry Van Brackle, and Ava and Mya Foley; brother John J. Foley Jr., and sister Mary "Mimi" Foley Downey.

Memorial service details are still being finalized. Please visit https://www.facebook.com/judgefoley Thomas F.X. Foley Sanibel Island ?