Richard J. Fox

Richard J. Fox
Born	(1927-11-08)November 8, 1927 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Died	February 9, 2020(2020-02-09) (aged 92) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Education	Central High School
Alma mater	Georgia Institute of Technology
Occupation	Property developer
Years active	1953 to 2020
Board member of	Temple Board of Trustees
Spouse	Geraldine Fox
Children	Harry Fox, Jennifer Fox, Frederic Fox, Celia Fox, Michael Fox
Parent(s)	Fred Fox, Zena Witlin Fox

Richard James Fox (November 8, 1927 – February 9, 2020) was an American property developer, entrepreneur and philanthropist. He served as the Chairman of Fox Companies, a property construction, development and management company in Eastern Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey, and Planalytics, a weather analytics company.

Early life

Richard J. Fox was born in 1927.[1] He grew up in the Germantown-Mount Airy neighborhoods of Philadelphia.[1]

Fox was educated at the Central High School, a public high school from which he graduated in 1945.[1] Fox enlisted in the Navy to serve in World War II, where he learned how to fly, which became a lifelong passion of his. He graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1950, where he received a bachelor of science degree in engineering.[2] He served in the Korean War of 1950–1953.[3]

Career

Fox co-founded Fox Companies, a property construction, development and management firm in Eastern Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey, with his brother Robert.[3][4] He served as its Chairman.[3][5] The firm has developed many buildings, including the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia.[4] Additionally, they developed the town of Chesterbrook, Pennsylvania.[1][2]

Additionally, Fox served as the Chairman of Planalytics, a weather analytics company.,[3][5] and Quantum Pest Management, a revolutionary, non-chemical, insect management technology.

Political activity

Fox was a co-founder of the Republican Jewish Coalition.[3][5] He served as its first Chairman, and served as its honorary chairman.[3] Fox served as the Chairman of the Jewish Policy Center.[3] He was the Pennsylvania State Chairman for Ronald Reagan's presidential campaign in 1980, and the national finance chair of Jack Kemp's 1988 presidential campaign.[5] Fox served as the co-chairman of the New Horizon Council.

Philanthropy

Alter Hall, home to the Fox School of Business and Management at Temple University.

Fox served on the Board of Trustees of Temple University continuously for 53 years.[3][6] He served as its Chairman for 17 years from 1982 to 1999, when the Fox School of Business and Management was named in his honor.[1][2] He was the 1996 recipient of an honorary doctorate of humane letters.[3]

Death

Fox died from natural causes on February 9, 2020, in his Center City Philadelphia apartment at the age of 92.[7]

Personal life

Fox was married to his wife, Geraldine for 64 years. Together they had 5 children and 7 grandchildren.[4] Fox flew planes for 64 years from the age of 17 until he stopped at the age of 81. He enjoyed politics, Jewish affairs and golf.[1]

References

1. Infield, Tom (October 12, 2005). "Venerable builder reflects on boom times gone by". Philly.com. Archived from the original on December 16, 2013. Retrieved November 5, 2015.
2. "Company Overview of Planalytics, Inc.: Richard J. Fox". Bloomberg Business. Retrieved November 5, 2015.
3. "Who We Are: Board Members". Planalytics. Retrieved November 5, 2015.
4. "Richard J. Fox". Fox School of Business and Management. Retrieved November 5, 2015.
5. "Richard J. Fox - Biography: Chairman". Jewish Policy Center. Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved November 5, 2015.
6. "Board of Trustees". Temple University. Retrieved November 5, 2015.
7. "Richard J. Fox, real estate developer and namesake of Temple's business school, dies at 92". Philadelphia Inquirer. 9 February 2020. Retrieved February 10, 2020.