William Fox

Fox, William
William Joseph Fox , 91, dearly loved husband, father, grandfather, uncle and friend, died peacefully January 16, 2013, surrounded by his loving wife and two children. Bill was born April 13, 1921 to Margaret (Brill) and Adolph Fox in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, NY. An outstanding student, he graduated from Brooklyn Prep in 1937 at barely age 16, and with a BS and MS in Chemistry from Holy Cross University in 1941 and 1942. With the war just beginning, he immediately joined the Navy as a 60-day wonder where he served on a minesweeper in the Chesapeake and later on the battleship Nevada in the Pacific where the fleet was massing for the invasion of Japan. In 1945, he left the Navy as a full lieutenant, still just 23 years old. During the war years, he met the love of his life and wife of nearly 69 years, Ethel Brennan, whom he married on May 3, 1944 in a beautiful ceremony in Our Lady's Chapel at St. Patrick's Cathedral. After the war, Bill attended law school, graduating from Brooklyn Law School with an LLB in 1947. Bill then joined The Dorr Company in Stamford as a patent attorney. Over the next 20 years, Bill rose to President and later Chairman of the Board of Dorr-Oliver, a Fortune 500 company, located then on Havemeyer Lane in Stamford. In 1969, Bill left to form his own company, The Whitlock Corporation, which he sold in 1980 to a British corporation. Bill leaves behind his wife, Ethel, his two dearly loved children, Patricia B. Fox and William J. Fox, Jr. and two grandchildren, Sarah and William J. Fox, III (Allyson). Bill was also eagerly looking forward to the birth of his first great grandchildren, twins, who are due later this Spring. He also leaves behind many loving nephews and nieces from both his and wife's families. Bill was a long-time resident of Old Greenwich, Greenwich, and Stamford. Since 1983, he also had a home in Naples, FL, where he and Ethel spent every Winter. Bill built two homes in Greenwich, the first on Burning Tree Road and the second in Reynwood Manor. Bill and Ethel left Greenwich for Stamford in 1996, moving to a beautiful condominium in Heatherwood, where they had many happy years. Bill was proud to have been one of the founders in 1961 of Burning Tree Country Club and the second President of the Club. At his death, he was the longest-serving member of the Club, where over the years he and Ethel made many dear and close friends. Bill was an all-around fantastic guy, father, and friend. He was eager for life, good to his friends and family, and accomplished at everything he did-with the possible exception of golf, which he loved. He was a very accomplished do-it-yourselfer, able to do electrical and plumbing work, remodel, wallpaper, and whatever he set his mind to. Visitation will be held Monday, January 21, 2013 from 4-8 pm at The Leo P. Gallagher & Son Funeral Home 2900 Summer St Stamford. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday January 22, 2013 at St. Leo's Roman Catholic Church 24 Roxbury Rd Stamford, CT. Condolences may be sent to the family at http://www.leopgallagherstamford.com/