FOX, Brian Robert

March 7, 1944 - May 15, 2018

Brian died quietly at home in Dundas, Ontario on the afternoon of May 15, 2018. He’s survived by his daughter, Maggie Fox (David Thomas), beloved grandson Julien Cameron, and brother Herbert Barnsley “Barney” Fox (Diane). One of Brian’s first memories was of his elder brother asking, in the mid-1940’s, if “The War was still on?” He would vividly recall thinking, as if the War were a radio, that his parents should simply “turn it off” if they wanted it to end. As a teenager, Brian was a challenge. Before one of their overseas trips, his parents Marjorie Jean Veale (1981) and Herbert Barnsley Fox Sr. (1980, former Chief Chemist at Stelco) went so far as to put him up in a local hotel, rather than leave him home alone to convene any high-spirited social gatherings. After his wild early years, Brian went on to a respectable career as a professor of English at Mohawk College in Hamilton, Ontario. His love for the intricacies and contradictions of the English language was expressed in wordplay, crosswords and an impressive ability to produce just the right line from Shakespeare. Taking pleasure in intelligent conversation, laughter, fast cars, baseball and pool, Brian spent much of his life surrounded by many friends and good times. Unfortunately, his final years were spent suffering from COPD, leaving him regretting ever smoking his first cigarette. All friends and family are invited to join us to raise a casual glass in his honour on Saturday, May 26th from 2-6 p.m. at The Hamilton Club, 6 Main Street East, Hamilton. Please email maggiekfox@gmail.com for more details.

A man who felt strongly about our moral obligation to protect civil liberties and democratic freedoms, Brian was a long-time supporter of Amnesty International, where donations may be made in lieu of flowers. Grateful thanks to Randy Cameron, Louise Lachowskyj, John King and Stephanie King (formerly Fox) for their help in making Brian feel well cared for in his final months.

To die: - to sleep:

No more; and, by a sleep to say we end The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks That flesh is heir to, ‘tis a consummation Devoutly to be wished - Hamlet, Act III, scene 1