Edward “Ned” Foley, former president of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 98, passed away at age 86 in his Linfield home. He was taken by lung disease. Lizzy McLellan Ravitch authored his Philadelphia Inquirer notice.

Foley was born in Havertown, the youngest of 14 children, and attended Haverford High School.

Later, as a U.S. Army veteran, he became an IBEW apprentice.

Although he never attained a college degree, he did extend his academic foundation with labor-relations studies at St. Joseph’s University and leadership training at the University of Pennsylvania.

In 1963, he married, and he and his wife, Frances, relocated to Audubon to raise a family.

Foley developed such facility in parliamentary procedure — a democratic governance arrangement of continually earned leader-constituent symbiosis — he was able to teach a course in it at St. Joe’s.

“When he ran the union, he wanted to do it the right way and follow parliamentary procedure,” Frances said. “Whatever he was asked to do, he went all heart in doing it.”

As a retiree, Foley golfed, traveled between the coasts by car to visit grandchildren, and vacationed at the Jersey Shore.

“His children and grandchildren were his whole life,” his wife said.

More on Ned Foley, his career, and his life is at The Philadelphia Inquirer.