Jean Hope Fox

Jean Fox, age 88, of Knoxville, Tennessee, passed peacefully in her sleep on Sunday, surrounded by her family and her loving husband of 65 years, Robert D. Fox. A beloved daughter of Richard and Florence Sager (Verona NJ), she is survived by her sister Cheryl Sager Thompson (Macedon NY).
Born and raised in New Jersey, Jean excelled at swimming at an early age, competing at the state and national levels with the AAU while keeping up stellar grades and cheerleading. In 1953 her academic and athletic achievements earned her a scholarship to Purdue University, swimming for the Lafayette Swim Club on Purdue's behalf, from which she graduated in 1957 with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy.
Jean and Bob met at Purdue on a blind date in 1956 and were united in love and marriage on September 14, 1957. Over the next fifteen years, their union would be blessed with seven children: Christina, Teresa, Daniel, Michelle, Gregory, Christopher, and Bridget, followed by fourteen extraordinary grandchildren and eight miraculous great-grandchildren.
Renowned for her boundless energy, Jean managed family adventures with infants, toddlers, and teenagers in tow, whether to the pool or library, camping on the shores of Burt Lake in Michigan, spending a summer as waterfront director at Camp Neyati, on a houseboat at Center Hill Lake in Tennessee, or at the lake house in Tellico Village. While raising an ever-growing family, Jean moved several times with Bob whose job as a chemical engineer with Dow Chemical Company took them between Midland, Michigan, and Virginia, Minnesota, eventually settling in Knoxville in 1975.
During their early years, Jean joined her husband in the Catholic faith to serve the parishes in which they lived, where she was a member of the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women, choir, Meals on Wheels, and numerous study groups. Her spirit of service included volunteering as swim coach, chaperone, librarian, and chauffeur for her children's many school and athletic events.
Jean instilled a passion for all things aquatic in her children, whom she taught to swim before they could walk. She pursued swimming throughout her life and taught all ages and abilities, including lifeguarding and water safety instructor classes, infant-mother swim classes at the Westside YMCA, and coach of the Knoxville Catholic High School, Deane Hill Country Club, and Village Green swim teams. She joined the United States Masters Swim Club in 1974, competing successfully in her events, including at the Senior Olympics, into her seventies. A cancer survivor, she remained active in the local Masters chapter as secretary-treasurer until age 80.
A woman of unwavering faith, Jean Fox was steadfast in her determination to lead her family to succeed to the best of their abilities and to use their talents to benefit all people. The devotion and strength of character she demonstrated throughout her life will remain an enduring example for her family and she will be missed by all who had the great fortune of knowing her.
Monday, August 7, visitation will be held at 9:45am at All Saints Catholic Church, North Cedar Bluff Road, Knoxville, followed by 10:30am Mass. Reception immediately following in the parish hall. Donations to the charity of your choice in lieu of flowers.