John Foley of Omaha was a virtuoso guitarist who married a famous groupie

He had a magnet on his fridge that said, “Whoever dies with the most guitars wins.”

Foley, the husband of Omaha philanthropist Susie Buffett and a longtime fixture in the local Omaha music scene, died Friday of lung cancer. He was 66.

“He was like a real musician who always wanted to learn and get better,” said Gary Foster, who played with Foley for decades in the popular local band The Firm. “And John was one of the greatest guys in the world. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like John.”

Guitars were Foley's first love.

The Omaha native first learned the instrument in his youth. As a young adult, before attending computer school, he worked at a music store selling guitars and sound systems and played in a local country band.

In 1980, he was asked to serve as sound engineer for The Firm, an Omaha band made up largely of local lawyers. And two years later, when the band's guitarist quit, Foley stepped in.

“We had a problem with him when he first joined: He was way too country and we were a garage new wave band and he played pretty damn loud,” Foster said. “But he learned and did it. He kind of energized the band.”

The relaxed and humble Foley enjoyed the entire process of being part of a creative group, having fun and making music. And he became a guitar virtuoso.

One of the band's biggest fans was Susie Buffett, the daughter of Berkshire Hathaway Chairman Warren Buffett. She eventually entered into a long-term relationship with the band's guitarist. Foley and Buffett married in 2017.

When The Firm stopped playing regularly, Foley performed as a blues guitarist with the Da Crabby Blues Band. He also explored other musical genres and was particularly interested in Gypsy Jazz, a style of jazz characterized by intricate guitar techniques.

He also hosted after-dinner jam sessions at his house, with friends playing other instruments and Susie Buffett singing and playing the tambourine.

Foley actually died with a lot of guitars that he always wanted to add to his impressive collection, Foster said. He also repaired guitars for other musicians in a basement workshop. He would never accept money for it – just a bottle of good Scotch.

With his technical know-how and his love of tinkering, he didn't just repair guitars. Cars. Electronics. Computer. You name it.

“If I had something, he'd say, 'Bring it over,'” said Bill Eustice, bassist and vocalist for The Firm. “It was amazing how smart he was. And he was always there when things went wrong.”

Foley is survived by his wife, Susie, and stepchildren, Emily Greenberg and Michael (Joe) Greenberg of Omaha. He is also survived by his sister, Mary McKnight of Meridian, Idaho, and his brother, Arthur “Sam” Foley of Council Bluffs.