Indy Resident & Former Marine Has a Community-Focused Mindset
Photography Provided
Growing up in a large family in the Boston area, Stephen Foglio idolized Bobby Orr, who played for the Bruins from 1966-1976. He inspired just about everyone in New England to be a hockey fan. At the time Bobby Orr entered the NHL, it was a major accomplishment to score 20 goals in one season. During the 1970-71 season, Orr scored 139 goals.
“When I say everyone [in Boston] played hockey back then, I mean everyone,” says Stephen, who is a lifelong hockey fan, player and coach.
Stephen grew up in Milford, MA, and went to Norwich University. His father, Al Foglio, served in the U.S. Air Force as a crew chief on a B47 bomber. His grandfather served in the Navy aboard the USS Boston during World War II. A cousin of Stephen’s mother, Jimmy Ferrelli, also served during World War II as a Marine landing at Iwo Jima and Okinawa. His division had the pleasure of hosting journalist Ernie Pyle. Inspired by the family tradition, Stephen joined the Marines while in college.
After completing his BS in business management, Stephen was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Marines. He was assigned to various locations including Quantico, VA, Pensacola, FL, Camp Pendleton in San Diego, CA, Okinawa, Japan, Korea, Somalia, Kenya, and Monterey, California. He earned his Masters at the United States Naval Academy Post Graduate School.
“Stephen is the quintessential great guy. Always fun to be around, makes everyone feel comfortable, more than competent in his work and served his country honorably,” says former Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard, fellow Marine who served with Stephen in Korea and Okinawa. “I’m happy he is still in Central Indiana. He’s the kind of person that makes a community a wonderful place to live.”
Stephen played hockey throughout his time in the Marines. He played on the All-Marine Hockey Team in San Diego, while serving at MCRD (Marine Corp Recruit Depot).
“After being a Marine during the day, we played at night,” recalls Foglio, who continued to play in the local beer leagues here in Indy until a few years ago.
In 1997, Foglio’s last assignment was to serve as the Marines’ liaison to the Defense Finance Accounting Service at Ft. Benjamin Harrison, here in Indianapolis. Along the way, while in D.C., Foglio met Brenda, who would become his wife. Brenda is a Defense Attorney with Marion County. The couple bought a home in Forest Hills when they moved to Indianapolis. In 2000, Stephen retired as a Lieutenant Colonel from active service after serving 20 years.
Stephen and Brenda have two hockey-playing sons, Luca and Theo. Theo plays for the Jr. Fuel and is a junior at Cathedral High School. Luca, a sophomore in college, plays club hockey at Miami of Ohio. Stephen, who sharpens skates in his basement, has coached both his boys in various capacities. Hockey is a family affair for the Foglios. It’s a huge commitment from a time and money standpoint.
“Whatever is needed to help out the kids I will do it,” says Foglio, who would rather be involved than be on the sidelines. “Even if my kids retired from hockey tomorrow, I’d still be at the rink helping out. Just like my dad with Legion baseball.”
Al Foglio was a baseball fanatic. Only one of his three sons played in Milford with Post59, a legion team. Al played softball and continued to volunteer with the club long after his boys were grown and dispersed around the world. Baseball was Al’s passion, similar to Stephen’s love of hockey. The brothers, and sister Maria, would discuss baseball and hockey with one another, for they all supported one another, regardless of interests.
“Like his father, Stephen is also an incredible dad, husband and friend,” says Adam Gibson of Adam Gibson Design, a friend and former neighbor of the Foglios in Forest Hills. “He is generous to the core and dedicated to his family — and to the sport of hockey.”
It was through coaching hockey where Stephen met Jeff West, a partner with Indy Performance Composites (IPC). Stephen was hired to be their CFO/COO. IPC was founded in 2003 to service the needs of the racing industry. They make body panels for midgets, sprints, IRL and NASCAR. They also make some parts for the NHRA. IPC committed to making and donating 3D-printed headed sets for face shields for first responders to aid with the COVID-19 response.
“Composites is the foundation of what we do,” says Stephen of Indy Performance Composites. “In addition to motorsports, we create products for the aerospace industry and for communications. We make things lighter, stronger and faster and, during the pandemic, we used our tools for good.”
Stephen’s work and passions are fast-paced and high energy. Just like on the ice.
“My grandfather, dad, mom, sister and brothers are really special people,” he says. “They give back. My sister and mom are both nurses, my older brother served in the Peace Corps in the 80s who now visits Appalachia while on vacation to do project work, and my younger brother Al, lives in London and started a school in the UK for special needs kids with Autism. It may be in our DNA.”
Comments 4
I remember when Steve Foglio made 1st Lt. and watched two other officers pin on his new silver bars. I only served in the Marine Corps for four years but Lt. Foglio was the best Marine Officer I ever met.
Semper Fi Sir.
Corporal Michael Weaver 2/1 and 1/9
Camp Horno 1st Marines
Mike- thanks for the kind words. Camp Horno was a long time ago yet fresh with good memories.
Recently I was thinning out some of my Marine Corps paperwork and ran across a card that was definitely worth keeping. It was a card from Steve, and it brought back some fine memories. I had the pleasure of serving with Steve at MCRD San Diego in the late 1980s. He was a superb example of an Officer of Marines. So it is no surprise to me to read that his selfless dedication, hard work, and commitment to others continued into his post Marine Corps life. I have no doubt that he has continued to be a positive force in the lives of so many.
Dennis M. Buckovetz
LtCol, USMC(Ret)
I had the pleasure of serving with Steve and a great team of Marines at Camp Horno in Southern California. He was a great example to follow and I was lucky to meet a fellow Bostonian and a lover of hockey and Bobby Orr! Semper Fi Steve – Mike Norton