Cameron Fox just wanted to be a good friend to everyone
CAMERON Karl Peter Fox just wanted to be everyone’s friend, according to his parents. This young man would have celebrated his 18th birthday on 22 June, and would have been sitting his Leaving Certificate currently, but his untimely and tragic death occurred on 5 September 2016, leaving his grieving parents stunned.
The eldest son of Sharon (nee Leddy) and Peter Fox, Cameron had two younger brothers, Evan (11) and Ewan (4). Described as ‘caring, kind, compassionate and sensitive’, Cameron was generous with his time and spent many hours entertaining senior citizens at Christmas with musical cousins and friends. He had a heart of gold and did not know the meaning of ‘selfish’.
As a youngster, he sang in Walshestown Choir, and also appeared in the Drogheda Pantomime on many occasions. He was an accomplished piano player and loved to act.
Cameron played football as a young boy, and took up Mai Tai as a teenager, enjoying the rough and tumble of the martial art. He also liked playing Playstation. Cameron was kind to animals and had a black cat which he loved. He also enjoyed baking and made a special birthday cake for his Nana Priscilla, with whom he spent a lot of his childhood in Drogheda.
Family was important to Cameron, who enjoyed summer holidays down the country, and looked forward to their annual outing to Bunratty Castle & Folk Park every Christmas with parents, grandparents and cousins.
Grandparents Liam and Priscilla Leddy now look back on the 10 years of happy Christmas visits with Cameron. His grandparents Rose and Kevin Fox are now both deceased, Rose passing shortly after her beloved grandson.
Cameron loved primary school from Day 1, attending Walshestown NS. In fact, his former principal, Nora Molloy, paid a tribute to him at his funeral and delivered a poem written in his memory written by his grandad, Liam. Some of his secondary school teachers also spoke highly of him following his passing.
Cameron enjoyed being with his friends, genuine friends, visiting their homes, or having them in his house. He loved his parttime work in the TLT Theatre, Drogheda, and also enjoyed his Transition Year work experience in Drogheda train station. He looked forward to further studies and a career in sport or on the stage, but that sadly, is not to be.
As Cameron’s 18th birthday and his second anniversary approach, Cameron’s family say that he died of a broken heart, describing his last months as being lonely and isolated. ‘He cried for help which was not forthcoming,’ they said, hoping that no other family would have to endure a tragedy like this.
Cameron died tragically on 5 September 2016, and reposed at his home in Grangebellew, in his room where he spent much of his time. Lots of kind gestures were extended to the family, with many messages of sympathy, and one friend even wrote a song in his memory (on YouTube ‘A Song for Cameron’ by David O’Brien). Friends selected memorial gifts, music for his funeral and provided a guard of honour. An oak tree was planted by the Dillon family in his memory. Friends subsequently organised a Benefit Night in The Valley Inn in his memory.
Support from the local community was massive, with neighbours arriving with food and flowers, and opening up fields for parking for the huge attendance at Cameron’s wake and funeral.
Requiem Mass was concelebrated by Fr McVeigh, with music by cousins David Leddy and soloists Damien Leddy and Amy Dyer. Cameron was laid to rest in Rathdrumin graveyard near his home.
Cameron was predeceased by his grandad Kevin Fox, aunt Anne Millar, cousins Karl Leddy and Kelly Jane Fox. He is survived by his parents Sharon and Peter, brothers Evan and Ewan, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and extended family.