Our city and region lost a loving friend, precious asset, and shrewdly subtle leader last week. Gina Foglia was an exceptional soul who took enormous delight in the natural world, in other humans, and in integrating the two. Her persistent efforts to enrich the built environment with nature’s gifts produced a legacy that may be viewed throughout Somerville.

She succeeded me as Mystic View Task Force president, and if I was a “war consigliere,” as some suggested, she was a “peace consigliere.” She had a rare generosity of spirit, engaging all whom she encountered with gracious and focused attention that often persisted long after a first encounter. I cherished her capacity to see past my own pettiness, gently acquainting me with what goodness I might possess and share with others. 

 She was not the kind of leader who seeks attention, promotes her own persona, and becomes well known. But a leader she was, leaving an enduring impact on many – both those who loved her and those who will never know her name. 

The following are remembrances from others who knew and cherished Gina. The Somerville Times encourages all who wish to, to add to these in the Comments section below.
— Bill Shelton

Gina had a gift for bringing people together. We collaborated on a National Register of Historic Places site that was also a home for treating women recovering from substance abuse. Tensions arose from the neighbors who objected to the facility’s presence in their neighborhood.

Gina understood the need for the neighbors and program residents to come together and understand each other’s perspective. The first step was to organize meetings that included neighbors with the facility’s staff and residents. Her true genius was to propose that the residents of the facility participate in the planting and maintenance of their own garden, including planting vegetable and herb beds where they could grow food and share it with neighbors. She persuaded some of the neighbors to help with gardening, which included training the residents. The healthy relationships that Gina fostered among neighbors, staff and residents continue.
— Edrick vanBeuzekom

Gina, I will never forget you – your exuberance for life, for adventure, your creativity and intelligence, and your deep ability in connecting with others and making them feel loved and important. You were a kindred spirit, a woman I looked up to, and if I can live half the life you have, I will be proud. To you I will make that promise—and I will do those things we talked about doing and hold you in my heart as I do them. You will be with me. And one day, we will walk in the forest again together.
— Carol Burnup

Gina designed a gorgeous space, full of native plantings for our home – a Dawn redwood tree, six peach trees, rustic stone walls, and many meditative outdoor rooms. The space is truly magical, as was the time I spent with Gina. I feel as though part of her spirit resides in my garden, which brings blessings to all who experience it. Gina, thank you! You will reside in my heart forever.
—Lillian Sober Ain

I first met Gina in the early ‘70s when we were both students at Southern Illinois University.   I will always remember her amazing cooking, unbounded curiosity and caring for her many friends.  One of my fondest memories was staying at her parent’s home on Long Island over Pride Weekend, spending Saturday on Fire Island and then training into the city for the Pride March on Sunday.  It was clear her graciousness was inherited from her amazing family.  She drove me crazy sometimes but my life was enriched for having known her. 
— Paulette Curkin

As I was exiting City Hall about 25 years ago, I encountered a woman who tenaciously insisted that I buy a dogwood sapling. Our landlady was initially displeased that we planted it without her permission, but it flourished and we subsequently bought the house.

As Gina and I were admiring the tree last year she revealed that the sapling had come from berries of a tree that she had planted on the farm on Long Island. At the time that I had bought it, I didn’t know that the ‘tree lady” was Brandon Wilson, and I wouldn’t know Gina for years to come. But today those lovely dogwoods grow throughout our city, and it’s typical that Gina was instrumental in the creation of something beautiful.
— Melissa McWhinney

As accomplished as she was in multiple fields of endeavor, Gina was refreshingly free of arrogance.
— Koletta Kaspar

During our last visit we walked and talked while tagging new street trees for adoption. Before she came over, Gina had called to see if I needed a tarp for the soil delivery that I was expecting, and to ask whether I needed cloves and nutmeg, as she had bought excess. Curiously, I needed all three. This was the epitome of Gina—thoughtful awareness of others’ needs, a great memory, and, I think, a touch of the sixth sense. 
— Renée Scott

Gina was a guide for the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy. She was a life-long learner, and she was passionate about so many things. Her connection with the natural world was profound.
— Tam Willey

During Mystic View Task Force’s early days Gina advocated for making all of Assembly Square green space. While this view did not prevail, her advocacy was sufficiently persuasive that our mantra became “30 acres of open space, 30,000 new jobs, and $30 million in net new tax revenues.”

She told my wife and me to plant a styrax tree in our small and shady backyard, where it thrives and propagates. We pass its offspring on to our friends. She subsequently advised us on landscaping for our rental property. We planted the first tree the day she fell. 

A wonderful friend and a fearless and passionate advocate for the natural world we are so busily destroying, her work lives on in a way that makes a difference to all of us. 
— Philip Parsons