JOSEPH FOX

1926 - 2022

FOX--Joseph M., died peacefully surrounded by his family in his Westfield, NJ home on September 23, 2022 at age 96. Born February 15, 1926 in Bridgeton, NJ to Julius and Sophie (Zeid) Fox, in 1943 Joe was a finalist in the prestigious Westinghouse Science Talent Search and was granted a four-year college scholarship by the Mayor of Philadelphia. He received a B.S. and M.S. in Chemical Engineering from the Towne School of Engineering, University of Pennsylvania where he earned academic honors, including the Hugo Otto Wolf Memorial Prize. After graduation, Joe joined Sharp & Dohme, later acquired by Merck, and thrived in his 46-year career at Merck, eventually serving as Assistant to Chairman and CEO Dr. Roy Vagelos. After moving from Philadelphia to Westfield in 1965, Joe became a prominent community member, serving as a president of the Jewish Family Service of Central New Jersey and board member of the Union County Advisory Council on Aging, Union County College, Temple Emanu-El of Westfield, and the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ. He was also a volunteer dispatcher at the Westfield Rescue Squad. Joe filled his life with family, books, travel, and countless visits to Mud City Crab House and Long Beach Island. His greatest love in life was his wife Shirley, to whom he was married for 73 years. Joe is survived by Shirley Fox, daughters Rebecca Ready (Dr. David Ready), Julie Fox (Matthew Winokur), Sheila Fox (Maury Myar), and Alyssa Fox, and grandchildren Lianna, Julian, Jacob, Evan, Sam, and Allison. He leaves a legacy of many lives touched by his years of philanthropic work and contributions at Merck that fostered the development of medicines to improve people's health. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the organizations he served.