Brendan M. Fox

1930 - 2022

Brendan M. Fox, 92, passed away peacefully on August 31st surrounded by his family in his home. Born to Michael D. and Catherine (McNamara) Fox on July 16, 1930, Brendan, affectionately known as "Big B.," lived an extremely rewarding professional and personal life, much of it in his hometown of Hartford, hand-in-hand with his beloved wife of 62 years, Maureen (Dunn) Fox. His daily impact on those around him will be sorely missed, but his influence on so many, particularly his family and friends, will last forever. He was a very special man, and the world is indeed a better place because of him. The son of an Irish immigrant father and two Hartford educators, Brendan realized the value of education at a young age and shared his passion for endless learning with his children and grandchildren. He graduated from Bulkeley High School in 1947 and received his Bachelor of Science degree Magna Cum Laude from College of the Holy Cross in 1951. From there, he continued the pursuit of his boyhood dream of becoming a physician at Tufts University School of Medicine from which he graduated Cum Laude in 1955. While there, Brendan earned induction into the Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society, of which he remained a member throughout his life. Following multiple residencies in various specialties and two years as a Captain in the U.S. Army Medical Corps, Brendan settled with his family in Hartford, where he began a long affiliation with Saint Francis Hospital and built his private practice, the Hartford Urology Group. As a member and leader of many professional organizations, both local and national, Brendan was always committed to bettering the discipline of urology. He learned from some of the field's renowned experts, many of whom became his personal heroes and friends, and he prioritized the tradition of mentoring those rising in the practice of the specialty. Soon after his arrival in Connecticut, Brendan helped coordinate the Urology Residency program at Saint Francis Hospital with the UConn School of Medicine, where he was Clinical Professor of Surgery for almost 50 years. In fact, even in his final days, Brendan still participated in the weekly grand rounds at UConn with current urology residents. Respected by his colleagues, Brendan was elected President of the New England Section of the American Urological Association (AUA) in 1983 and eventually served as President of the national AUA in 2004. Brendan earned worthy recognition during his career, including the Hartford Medical Society Distinguished Service Medal, the New England/AUA Lifetime Achievement Award, the Saint Francis Hospital & Medical Center Distinguished Physician Award, the AUA Distinguished Service Award, and the AUA Lifetime Achievement Award. As great as his professional accomplishments were, what was most important to Big B. was the family that he raised with the love of his life, his wife Maureen ("Nana"), who passed in 2019. Their five children, their spouses, and their twelve grandchildren gave Nana and Big B. incredible joy and fulfillment, and they all became his focal point upon retirement. He was his children's and grandchildren's most fervent cheerleader, always there to root them on in whatever they were doing. If something was important to anyone in his family, it was more important to Big B. During his working years and especially in his retirement, he would attend every First Communion, cheer on at every sporting event and graduation, watch every recital, contribute to every spaghetti dinner fundraiser, accept any and all dinner invitations…you name it, he would be there. He relished being surrounded by those he loved, and he always made his loved ones smile. While many slow down in their later years, Big B.'s pace only accelerated. He and Nana were always on the go, often traveling far and wide to visit friends and family, chairing fundraising events for Saint Francis, volunteering for the Saint Francis Women's Auxiliary and the Malta House of Care, meeting up with Niantic's "Muffin Men," and marching in Hartford's St. Patrick's Day parade as West Hartford's Irish Person of the Year. One of Big B.'s most enthusiastic hobbies was rooting for the UConn women's basketball team. If he and Nana were not in the stands, they would be watching every game with a group of friends in someone's living room. At halftime, Big B. would call his good friend and discuss strategies for the 2nd half, though never did he expect credit for the team's success. For many, the best birthday gift of all was a singing telegram from Big B., and we will all miss his exploding fist bump greetings every time we saw him. Big B. was humble to a fault and a devoted man-dedicated to his profession, his patients, his friends, his faith, and most of all, his family. Brendan was always that beacon to whom people gravitated for advice, comfort, medical care, a laugh, friendship, and he never turned anyone away. His door, whether to his office or his home, was always open wide. He welcomed and cared for all, regardless of their circumstances. His mantra was always to be generous with his time and knowledge but never to seek attention. His modesty and compassion for all is a standard to which his children and grandchildren will always aspire. Besides his wife Maureen, Brendan was predeceased by his mother Catherine; father Michael; brothers, John, Gerald, Tom, and Monsignor Davitt Fox; and daughter-in-law, Karen. He leaves his five children and their spouses: Greg (Carolyn) of Old Lyme; twins Cathleen Laffin (Fran) of West Hartford and Ellen Spalluto (Joe) of West Hartford; and twins Steve (Fontayne) of Wilmington, DE and Brendan, Jr. (Ellen) of West Hartford. Big B.'s twelve grandchildren will always smile when remembering him: Meghan Fox; Maureen, Carolyn, and Caitlin Spalluto; Michael, Matthew, and Stephen Laffin; Davitt and Ryan Fox; and Brendan III, John, and Luke Fox. He also leaves his sister Maureen Hallisey and numerous nieces and nephews. Calling hours will be held from 4-8pm on Wednesday, September 7th in the St. Peter Claver Parish Hall, 47 Pleasant St., West Hartford. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 12:00pm on Thursday, September 8th at St. Peter Claver Church. Live streaming of the service will be available through St. Peter Claver Church by using the link http://stpeterclaverparish.org and selecting livestream. Please meet directly at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Urology Care Foundation (urologyhealth.org) and to Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center (holyfamilyretreat.org), 303 Tunxis Road, West Hartford, CT, 06107. Online expressions of sympathy may be made at www.molloyfuneralhome.com