LAKE COUNTY, FL (352today.com) – Welcome to Who’s Who in the 352, an exclusive 352Today feature in which we get to know some of our region’s movers and shakers a little better. This week’s subject is Lake County Communications Manager Jeff Foley, who not only works to keep his community informed but is also an author whose ongoing personal battle with cancer helped shape a series of inspiring books about faith, family, and gratitude and grace in the face of hardship.
How did you come to be the communications manager for Lake County?
I was working as a public information officer for another government agency in late 2024 when a friend mentioned that Lake County was hiring a communications manager. I applied and promptly forgot about it. Then, the day after I had hip replacement surgery, Lake County called to conduct a phone interview. I was recovering and have no idea what I said, but that call turned out to be the first step in landing the job.
What’s the most rewarding thing about your “day gig”?
I love knowing that we’re helping people. Our primary responsibility is to keep the community informed. Whether it’s something as simple as a road closure or as serious as deadly flooding, our goal is to get accurate, timely information to Lake County’s residents. That information might save someone frustration on their drive home, or it could help keep a family safe.
Tell us a bit about your own journey battling cancer.
“Journey” is definitely the right word. I was diagnosed with melanoma on Dec. 22, 2023, and I’m still fighting it today. I’ve been diagnosed three separate times, undergone five major surgeries over three years, and received about 20 treatments, along with numerous complications. I never would have imagined that a mole could have such a profound impact on my life, or my family’s life.
How are you doing right now?
I’m living my best life despite the circumstances. I’m currently battling Stage 4 cancer (it has spread to my adrenal gland and my brain) but I’m grateful for every day God gives me with my family. Being a dad and a husband is incredibly important to me, and I’m thankful that I’m still able to enjoy life with my loved ones. I’m often tired and sick more than I’d like, but every morning I wake up and get to love on my family is a good day. I’m also grateful to God for giving me the strength to keep showing up at work, even after major surgeries, and to stay committed to serving Lake County’s residents.
Where did the idea come from to share your own experience, faith and insight through your “Strength for the Journey” series of books?
When I was first diagnosed with cancer, I wrote a memoir called “Healed on the Inside.” It was published shortly after I went into remission and performed very well, reaching No. 1 on an Amazon best-seller list. I heard from many readers who said the book helped them navigate their own valleys. Unfortunately, my remission lasted only about six months. When the cancer returned, I began writing again, initially just for myself. Over time, I felt God calling me to “turn lemons into lemonade.” That led me to plan a series that was devotional in nature rather than another memoir. The “Strength for the Journey” series spans eight books and isn’t cancer-specific. Instead, it draws from my own experiences, stories from history, and the Bible to help people navigate life’s difficult seasons. Each book focuses on a different theme, such as choosing joy, hearing God, or learning contentment.
What do you hope to accomplish or impart by writing the series?
My hope is that the series reminds people they are not alone, especially during life’s hardest seasons. I wrote these books to offer encouragement, perspective, and hope to those who feel worn down, overlooked, or close to giving up. If the series helps even one person keep going, view their circumstances differently, or believe that God is still present in the middle of their struggle, then it has accomplished exactly what I set out to do.
What’s next for Jeff Foley?
I recently wrote and published a children’s book with my 7-year-old daughter, Jaylynn, and that experience was incredibly special. I look forward to more creative projects like that with her. I’ll also continue enjoying life with my wife, Jeanette. And I’m sure that when God puts something new on my heart, I’ll write another faith-based book. For now, my focus is simply on being the best dad, husband, friend, and employee I can be.