Richard "Rich" John Fox

Richard  “Rich” John  Fox, devoted husband of Joyce “Jill” Ellen Fox, passed away peacefully Wednesday, December 2, 2020, at his residence in Athens, GA.

Born February 19, 1942, in Manhattan, NY, to the late Richard Nicholas and Margaret (McCarron) Fox, Rich attended Our Lady of Mercy and Mount St. Michael in the Bronx — a place he held dear to his heart and made the closest of friends with whom he kept in touch with to this very day. Among their fondest memories are playing stick ball on Creston Avenue, football and baseball at Harris Field, running track at the Mount, and many evenings exploring the city to attend New York Ranger hockey games at Madison Square Garden. He left New York after high school to pursue his undergraduate degree from the University of Dayton, and then went on to Michigan State University, where he received his Master’s and PhD in Statistics. He met Jill in Cincinnati while working at Proctor and Gamble and shortly thereafter moved to Atlanta, Georgia where he worked at Nimslo before moving to Athens to become a Professor at the University of Georgia.

Rich was so much to so many from all the quarters of his life. He was a respected member of the UGA faculty and was voted “MMR Teacher of the Year” by his students multiple times throughout his career. To his closest friends he was, “a true friend for over seven decades. Fun, loyal and caring, from childhood to old age, we shared every significant experience in life. His passing leaves a void that cannot be filled.” For his sister he was, “a caring and loving brother. He will be missed but will forever be in my heart.” For his daughters, he is the strongest man they will ever know and they are thankful to be raised by such a loving father. His granddaughters will recall many stories of an attentive and energetic grandfather who was always up to a game of Clue or “Just Dance” dance-off’s (to which he always won).

He is remembered by all through his vibrant storytelling and his dry wit.  He was a statistical guru and a trivia genius who loved sports (as a player and fan), music, the performing arts, history, nature and animals — with a special place in his heart for golden retrievers. He was a dedicated New York Giants (of football and baseball), New York Rangers, and New York Knicks fan since his childhood, and traveled all over the United States to watch their games throughout the years. Most significantly, he made his family first — dedicating all of his energy, time, attention, love and support selflessly throughout his life to his wife, daughters, sister, brother and sister in law, nieces, nephews, and granddaughters as well as his life-long friends.

He will be memorialized by all as one-of-a-kind through his generosity and sense of humor. While he leaves all behind in mourning, he leaves many, many wonderful memories to all, that will be passed down through generations.

He is survived by his two daughters: Tracy Fox Shannon and Danielle (Shane) Marie Fox-Baruta; granddaughters: Brooklynn Taylor Shannon and Mackenzie Reese Shannon; his sister Maureen McCarthy; nieces and nephews: Kathy (Anthony) Spinola, Johnny (Kristin) Doherty, Erin Doherty, Brian (Sarah) Doherty, Quentin (Melissa) McCarthy, Jared McCarthy, grand nieces and nephews: Anthony (Christiana) Spinola, Karissa Spinola, Joey Spinola, Brenna Doherty, Kaitlin Doherty, Clare Doherty, Andrew Kovacs, Aimee Kovacs, Isabella Doherty, Scarlet Doherty, Lily McCarthy, Donovan McCarthy, Ronan McCarthy, and baby Quentin McCarthy; brother and sister in law: John "Jack" Robert and Georgette Nancy Mackenzie; nephews: Brad (Rebecca) Mackenzie and Jack (Lori) Mackenzie, Jr; grand nieces and nephews: Hunter, Dreu, Leighton, Alton, and George Mackenzie - all of whom love him and will miss him dearly.

A service will be held on Thursday, December 10, 1:00 pm at Athens Memory Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations to be made to the Wounded Warrior Project or the Golden Retriever Rescue of Atlanta.

Lord & Stephens East is in charge of arrangements. www.lordandstephens.com