Dr. Milford Mace Foxwell, Jr. (Mickey) passed away, at home, following a long illness on Thursday, July 16 surrounded by his loving family.

Born in Cambridge, MD on August 1, 1953, he was the son of the late Milford M. Foxwell, Sr. and Patsy Foxwell. Mickey attended local schools, graduating from Cambridge High School in 1971, Graduated University of Maryland, College Park 1975, Graduated University of Maryland School of Medicine 1980. After a year of Internship at Washington Hospital Center, Mickey returned to Maryland to complete his Residency at University of Maryland Hospital, serving as Chief Resident in Department of Medicine of the University of Maryland Medical Center. Mickey remained with University of Maryland throughout the duration of his career. He served as a Clinician-Educator, both seeing patients and teaching at the Medical School. He was an Instructor, Assistant Professor, and Course Master and was appointed Dean of Admissions at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in 1989.

In 1987, Mickey was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha National Medical Honor Society. In 1988, he was the Recipient of Golden Apple Award for Best Clinical Professor, an honor bestowed by the Medical School Students. In 2013, Mickey was elected to the Gold Humanism Honor Society. He was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Endowment of the University of Maryland, Chairman of the Davidge Hall Restoration Committee of the Medical Alumni Association, and countless other honors and appointments. Throughout his career, Mickey continued his commitment to see patients and frequently volunteered his services at the Veteran's Hospital.

In 2018, the Medical Alumni Association Board of Directors honored Mickey by naming a room in Davidge Hall, the oldest building in the Western Hemisphere continuously used for medical education. "The Milford M. Foxwell, Jr. Dissecting Laboratory" will serve to train future generations of medical students in the years to come.

In 2019, Mickey was bestowed the honor of the University of Maryland School of Medicine Dean's Gold Medal for Distinguished Service.

Though his career took him to Baltimore and beyond, Mickey never forgot his Eastern Shore roots. As a doctor, teacher and mentor, Mickey always helped residents of Dorchester County with medical needs, assistance or referrals whenever he could.

Mickey is survived by his mother Patsy Foxwell of Cambridge, his wife, the former Suzanne West of Cambridge, son, Louis Foxwell and girlfriend Rachael Maynard of Baltimore, brother Larry Foxwell and wife Kathy of East New Market, sister PattiCarol Smith and husband Mike of Cambridge, nephews Austin Foxwell and Will Foxwell, both of Salisbury, Step daughter Lauren Smarr and Step Son Kevin Kilduff of Cambridge, granddaughter Makayla Kilduff and Aunt Mary Hodgson of Cambridge. Mickey also leaves behind his dogs Tara and Poppy, an array of kitties, and his beloved peacocks.

Preceding him in death besides his father are his Uncles, Marvin M. Foxwell of Cambridge and D. Frank Potter of Virginia.

Mickey is also survived by over 4,300 medical students who were admitted, educated, trained and mentored under his tenure as Dean of Admissions. That is, today, over half of the school's living alumni.

Besides his obvious passion for medicine and his students, Mickey also had a tremendous passion for baseball. Mickey traveled all over the country to meet players, attend shows, lectures and game. He loved the sport, the players, the history and he loved to talk baseball to anyone who was interested.

Mickey had an insatiable appetite for the history of medicine. Mickey collected and read books and journals, some more than a century old, and studied the biographies of doctors who built the foundations of medicine. His lectures were often based on these studies. His book collection is now part of the University Medical School Library.

His greatest devotion, and the most important thing in his life, was his family. Despite a demanding career, he always put his family first spending as much time with them at home as he could. Mickey will be loved and remembered as a loving husband, father, son, brother, uncle, grandfather and friend. His dry sense of humor, his prankster behavior, his extensive legacies, his love of life (and old movies and "The Beatles") will live on in his family and his memory.

Expressions of sympathy can be made in the form of donations to Medical Alumni Association Foxwell Davidge Hall Fund, 522 West Lombard St. Baltimore, Maryland 21201. Or to Coastal Hospice, P.O. Box 1733 Salisbury, MD 21802.

At this time, to honor Mickey's wishes, the family is planning a private memorial. Arrangements are in the care of the Thomas Funeral Home, P.A. in Cambridge.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Star Democrat on Jul. 21, 2020.

Memories and Condolences
for Milford Foxwell

Sponsored by Thomas Funeral Home, P.A. - Cambridge.

13 Entries

Andrew Gunn

March 15, 2025

Mickey graduated in 1980; I followed him in 1981. I knew him as fellow human being and med student. We played basketball on the garage as much as we could manage. We took pride in being the best , defending our med student honor from pharmacy, PT, nurses, and especially the law punks. He had a great sense of humor and was always a friend who had your back. Although he was incredibly bright he never was arrogant or condescending toward anyone. He always had the right stuff to be a great physician. He was even a greater all round person. Hopefully God will make more of his rare kind.

Karen Crawford

August 6, 2020

Mickey Foxwell was a great ally for St. Mary's College of Maryland students focused on careers in medicine. He was a great friend and counsel to my service as our premed advisor for more than 20 years. His passing is a great loss to so many. My condolences to his family. He always lit up whenever he spoke about you. He was just so genuine. I am sorry for his passing and for your tremendous loss.

Suhair Al Khatib

August 1, 2020

I’m so heartbroken by the passing by my friend and primary care physician Dr. Foxwell. I met Mickey when I first moved to Baltimore in 1988 and became a friend ever since. Mickey was so caring and compassionate that we took hours taking about our lives despite his busy schedule. There was a time when my father, who is asthmatic and lived abroad, needed inhalers, and Mickey was instrumental in helping me secure the inhalers and keep my dad in good health. Mickey attended my wedding in 1995 and I forever will remember Mickey and keep him in my prayers.

Jack Biedlingmaier, MD. Assoc Prof.

July 27, 2020

What people should know the most about him is his fairness. What most people do not realize is that he had a tremendous amount of power being the Dean of Admissions to the medical school. He never allowed anyone to influence his decision as to who would be admitted. He never bowed to pressure from anyone. If your son or daughter did not have the grades and academic brain power then he would never let anyone influence him in the final say about an admission. He kept copious records and files in his "barn" to counter anyone's claim that he played favorites or bent the rules to get someone admitted without the credentials. I enjoyed working with him on the admissions committee for 20 years and learned about equal treatment for everyone regardless of wealth, power, influence or politics...... if you were not good enough to be admitted then you were not going to get past him and he supported his fellow members in their decisions. This country could use many more people with the integrity of a Mickey Foxwell.... he will be missed.

Laura Finkelstein

Planted Trees

NICOLE MAHDI, M.D.

July 24, 2020

Dr. Foxwell's impact on the acceptance and successful matriculation of medical students at UMDSOM is unmatched.

He alone is one of the reasons I decided to attend UMDSOM.

For all the support & mentorship Dr. Foxwell provided me as a medical student at UMDSOM - Thank you. He will be greatly missed.

My deepest condolences to his family, friends, colleagues, and former/current students.

UMDSOM c/o 2012

Daniel Ambinder

July 23, 2020

My heart breaks at hearing of the passing of my mentor, Dr. Mickey Foxwell- Medicine has lost a legend but his legacy is stronger than ever!

My brother David Ambinder and I owe so much gratitude to this great man, Dr. Foxwell... literally our careers.

He opened the doors of the great UMSOM & followed our progress with pure love.

Laura H. Finkelstein, MD

July 22, 2020

I first met Mickey in 1986 when he interviewed me for admission to UMD School of Medicine. He asked me some very pointed questions, including “why would you come here?” Whew!....years later, when I joined the faculty, he jokingly reminded me that I didn’t attend the school after he admitted me! The man had the most extraordinary memory!

Mickey was a man with deep passion for students, for patients, and for our school. He will be sorely missed.

Wind to thy wings, my colleague, my mentor and my friend. May your memory be a blessing to all who mourn.

Denise Busbee

July 22, 2020

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

JESSICA BENDER

Planted Trees

Jessica Durkee-Shock MD

July 21, 2020

This wonderful man’s words are still saved in my voicemail, 12 1/2 years after he called me. In the fall of 2007, he nonchalantly left a message in his slight southern accent that I had been accepted to University it Maryland to go to medical school. He told me I was going to be a doctor, and I couldn’t have fathomed what was to come. In the years that passed, I intermittently encountered him in the wide corridors at UMMS: after I married the boy I followed to Baltimore, after I matched into med peds, after I became a mother, and after I graduated from residency. I feel like I bumped into him surrounding every major professional and personal life event for a decade, and he was always there with a smile and endless encouragement. In the hard times when I wish I hadn’t chosen this path, I have often listened to that message to remind myself of my calling. He is a great loss to the University of Maryland Medical School community, and those of us whom he chose and trained can only hope to pass on his legacy. I hope he will be proud of us.

RIP Dr Foxwell.

Robert and MaryLou Watson

July 21, 2020

In loving memory of a wonderful person. We will love you and miss you always.