Robert P Foglia

Dr. Robert Peter Foglia, devoted husband of Nancy, and beloved father of Robb, Liz, Matt, Steve, Andrew, and Michael, passed away on December 10. His final months, surrounded by loved ones and receiving calls from around the country, testified to his profound impact as a family member, a caring friend, and as a surgeon who dedicated his life to children’s medicine.

Bob was the only child to Pete Foglia and Elda DaCorte and grew up in Flushing, New York. It hardly seems possible Bob could have imagined the households he would later occupy, filled with so many kids, grandkids, and spoiled pets. But being part of a big family was the delight of his life. Bob helped to raise six children, who are now doctors, artists, whiskey distillers, and lawyers. In later years, he also became Grandpa Bob, joyfully watching the growth of Gwen, Joe, Tessa, Cole, and Paige and speeding their tooth decay through illicit sweets. Perhaps the greatest blessing of the last phase of his life was the chance to meet his newest grandchild, Kit, who was born only in August.

Bob met Nancy in 1982 in Washington, D.C. where he was completing his fellowship and she worked as a pediatric oncology nurse. They married in 1984 and remained together through the birth of triplets, through moves across the country, and even through Bob’s own retirement when he pivoted to a lifestyle heavy in pizza-making and landscape photography. Together they made homes in North Carolina and Wyoming where all felt Bob’s warmth as a host, quick with plates of bleu cheese and slow with the telling of well-known stories.

Making connections through medicine was a major theme of Bob’s life. Many of his dearest friends were colleagues at St. Louis Children’s Hospital and at UT Southwestern Medical Center, where he served as Chief of Surgery. His commitment to children touched more lives than can be easily counted. Each Christmas his house was inundated with cards sent by the families of children Bob treated. Even from his own hospital room this fall, Bob continued to call parents who had consulted him, checking on the progress of their children.

He will be remembered for his broad smile, his bad jokes, his curiosity, and his generosity. He will be equally missed for the same.

Service will be held at 1pm on Monday, December 18th at St. James Parish, 25 S 3rd St, Wilmington, NC.

Donations in Bob’s memory may be made to Children’s National Hospital Foundation ( https://www.childrensnational.org ).

Aquamation Services have been entrusted to Tranquility Cremation by Aquamation ( www.waternotfire.com ).