Beatrice Mullen Fox

1918 - 2011

Born in San Francisco October 30, 1918, she died peacefully on March 15, 2011. Missy, as she was known to family and friends, spent her early years in Juneau, Alaska where her father, John F. Mullen, ran the B.M. Behrends Bank, established by her grandfather in 1891. During high school, she would travel by steam ship from Alaska to San Francisco to attend Convent of the Sacred Heart Atherton. She was graduated from San Francisco College for Women (Lone Mountain – USF) with a degree in History.

Living and working in San Francisco during WWII, she met her husband-to-be Robert B. Fox while he was on leave from duty as Lt. Commander on the U.S.S. Spence. They married in San Francisco in 1946 and settled in Atherton, where they raised a son and three daughters.

After the children were grown, she served on the Board of Directors of her family's bank until it was sold in 1989. She also was a member of the Board of Trustees of Sacred Heart Preparatory in Atherton and was involved with its evolution from an all girls school to its present status as one of the best co-educational prep schools on the west coast.

She later continued her life-long devotion to Sacred Heart Schools through her volunteer work at Oakwood of the Sacred Heart. She also volunteered in the Chaplain's office of the Stanford University Medical Center for a number of years.

Her devotion to her Catholic religion was reflected in her relationships with her friends and family. She will be remembered as a true lady and a true friend, as well as a devoted mother to her four children.

Preceded in death by her husband Robert B. Fox and her son, Robert B. Fox Jr., she leaves behind three daughters: Anne F. Gruening (Winthrop) of Juneau, Alaska, Beatrice F. Marlatt (John) of Lake Forest, Illinois, Mary F. Shamir of Tiburon, California. She also leaves behind five grandchildren: Robert Gruening, Caroline Gruening Vines, and Anne, Daniel and Maya Shamir. They all adored their "Mama".

Friends are invited to a memorial service Friday May 6th at 3:00pm at Church of the Nativity, Atherton, California. In lieu of flowers, gifts can be made to Oakwood of the Sacred Heart, Valparaiso Avenue, Atherton, CA 94027.