Michael J. Foley

Michael Jean Foley, 51, of Brimfield, MA, died February 25, 2025 while in Hospice care surrounded by his family and friends.

Born and raised in Worcester, he attended Greendale Elementary School and St. John’s High School. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Curry College.

He started his career in Law Enforcement with the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office where he left as a Sergeant to enter the Worcester Police Department. He retired in 2022 due to medical issues.

During his career he was assigned to several areas of the city, served as a SWAT member and served years as a member of the D.E.A. task force.

Among several other awards, in 2005 Michael was awarded the George L. Hanna, Jr. Award for Bravery by the Governor at the State House in Boston.

Michael loved the outdoors, especially camping with his family and hiking trips with fellow officers. He hiked from Maine, Nova Scotia, to the Alps in France, Switzerland and Italy. He vacationed at Smugglers’ Notch, VT each year with his family. While training for long difficult hikes, people in town would see him walking the back roads of Brimfield with his young son Kevin strapped to his back in a carrier.

He leaves four children, Ashley Kendall and her husband Mark Bonczek and their daughter Raven Kenczek of North Carolina, Kaitlin Pickard and her two children Nathaniel J. and Oaklynn A. of Washington, Emma Foley of Southbridge, and one son Kevin J. Foley of Brimfield; his parents, Kevin and Kathleen (McCarthy) Foley of Brimfield, a sister Erin and her husband Patrick Gallivan and their two children, Owen and Lily; his childhood best friend for almost 50 years, Donald and his wife Christine (Cassidy) Rushlow of McDonough, GA.

Michael enjoyed a special bond with his nephew Owen and niece Lily Gallivan of Auburn. His heart was always with the children and also with the children of the city while on duty.

Becoming a police officer, he developed into the man he truly wanted to be, interacting with people and their cultures and languages of the city, with understanding, honesty, compassion and fairness. Michael especially enjoyed learning Spanish where he became fluent over the years. We can all gain from his example.

Calling hours will be held Thursday, March 6, from 10 a.m. to noon in the Athy Memorial Home, 111 Lancaster St., Worcester.