Obituary
Josef Fox, former UNI professor of philosophy and humanities, died of a heart attack August 7, 1980, at his Peacham, Vermont, home, seven months after his retirement. Fox, who taught at UNI for thirty-two years, had dedicated his entire teaching career to the betterment of the institution
Fox joined the Department of English and Speech at UNI (then known as the Iowa State Teachers College) in 1947. In the years following, he was instrumental in developing both the general education and humanities programs at the university.
For years Fox wrote the controversial "Obiter Scripta" column for the College Eye
, the student newspaper which later became the Northern Iowan
. In this column, he quite freely expressed his criticisms of administrative policies, causing much controversy at times.
Fox was born in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, in 1914. He obtained his B. A. degree in 1937 from Pennsylvania State University, and his M. A. in 1938 from Louisiana State University. He was awarded the Ph. D. degree in English from the University of Chicago in 1953, and did post-doctoral study at Harvard University.
During World War II, Fox served in both the US Army and the US Navy. He was married to Priscilla Kakis in New York City in 1944.
Fox received the "Favorite Teacher" award several times during his career at UNI, a reflection of his extreme dedication and love for his students. He retired from the UNI Department of Philosophy and Religion in December 1979, and moved to Vermont with his wife.
He is survived by his wife; two brothers, Paul, in California, and Carl, in Pennsylvania; and a sister, Kathryn Bemesderfer, in Ohio.
Memorial services were held at 4 P.M. Wednesday, August 27, in the Education Center. Speaking at the ceremony were Thomas Thompson, professor of philosophy and religion, H. W. Reninger, former head of the Department of English, and J. W. Maucker, former UNI president, all long-time friends of Fox.
Copyright Northern Iowan , August 29, 1980, p. 4.
|
1914 - 1980 (65 years)
[1] 
