Obituary of John Fox

John "Jack", passed away on Friday, February 6, 2015. He was 80. Born in Brooklyn he was a resident of Mahwah before moving to Wyckoff. He graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School and went to New York University College of Engineering. He graduated with a degree in Civil Engineer. He started working with a consulting engineering firm, but was called into the Army. When he returned, he began work with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey working on new roadway approaches for the lower level of the George Washington Bridge. He earned his professional engineer's licenses in NY and NJ while working. He ended his 36 year career as an Assistant General Manager for maintenance and construction of all Port Authority marine terminals. This included Port Newark and Elizabeth, Howland Hook in Staten Island, Jersey City Import Automobile Terminal, Brooklyn Marine Terminal and the passenger ship terminal for cruise ships in Manhattan. By the grace of God, love of family and friends, the excellence of Valley Hospital - Doctors Yiengpruksawan and Rakowski and the Chemo staff, he lived with pancreatic cancer for over 7 years. He advocated for awareness and support of the disease by joining fundraising walks, going to Washington, D.C. urging Congress to co-sponsor a bill and working with Valley Hospital to create a support group. After Jack's retirement, he served on the Indian Field Townhouse Board in Mahwah for years and was Board President for many years at the Cedar Hill Condominium Association in Wyckoff. He and his wife, Barbara, went to Ireland numerous times to visit family and enjoyed touring in the U.S. and Europe. Survivors include his loving wife of 50 years Barbara C. Fox, a daughter Elizabeth Anne Beaulieu, her husband Timothy, a son John Nelson Fox, his wife Cheryl, six grandchildren: Jack, Thomas, Madeleine, Casey, Delaney and Tabitha, two sisters: Mary Chevallay and Patricia Gannon. He is survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins. Jack's brother William Fox died previously. Visitation will be held on Monday from 2-4 & 7-9 at Vander Plaat Funeral Home, (vpfh.com), 257 Godwin Ave., Wyckoff. A funeral mass will be celebrated on Tuesday at 11:30 AM at St. Elizabeth's Church, 700 Wyckoff Ave., Wyckoff and the interment will follow at Valleau Cemetery in Ridgewood. Memorial Contributions in Jack's memory may be made to the Valley Hospital Foundation, in support of Dr. Ganapola's Research to develop a blood test for the early diagnosis of Pancreatic Cancer, 223 N. Van Dien Ave. Ridgewood, NJ 07450, would be greatly appreciated.