Richard Boeye Fox

Richard Boeye Fox, 86, of Ferrysburg/Spring Lake, MI, passed away surrounded by his family the evening of Friday, December 24, 2021. He was born on July 20, 1935, the son of the late Henry A., Sr. and Laura (Rooms) Fox.

After graduating from the University of Notre Dame, Richard joined the E. W. Bliss Company of Salem, Ohio for three years. He then worked at Great Lakes Steel in Detroit. For 37 years, he advanced through the ranks of management there and at the parent company, National Steel. First, he promoted the new high strength steel products to companies across the country. His last role was as Director of Corporate Quality Systems, where he led all five divisions to their first quality certifications. Upon his retirement in 1998, the Foxes moved to the Tri-Cities area where Richard started at West Shore Quality Associates, working as a consultant across the state.

Locally, he volunteered with many groups including SCORE, Chamber of Commerce (led a manufacturers’ think tank), wrote the Mission Statement for the Grand Haven Historical Society, and invented a toolbox to help entrepreneurs start their own businesses. He served on the Ferrysburg Zoning Commission and as its Chair. Richard also wrote the Ship’s Log column for the GH Tribune for fourteen years.

He collected antique banks, maritime memorabilia, and Coast Guard keepsakes. Richard was a member of the Detroit Maritime Historical Society, Association of Iron and Steel Engineers, Society of Automotive Engineers, ASM International and American Society for Quality. He served on the board of the Muskegon Section of the American Society for Quality, the Kitchel-Lindquist Dune Preserve Committee, and belonged to the Spring Lake Rotary Club.

Above all, Richard was a devoted husband and father, providing a lasting foundation of love and life lessons. He was our hero - a man of kindness, honesty, integrity, and open to others’ opinions.

Richard leaves behind his loving wife of 60 years, Karen Z. Fox; daughters, Laurabeth (Antonio) Monti and Johanna (Mara) Fox; and son, Timothy R. (Cristina) Fox; two granddaughters and a great-grandson; siblings, Mary Joy (Bill) Keane, Tom (Claire) Fox, Henry A. Fox, Jr.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Patrick G. Fox.

Private Family Services will be held.

In lieu of flowers, Memorial Contributions may be made to the University of Notre Dame or First Presbyterian Church, Grand Haven, MI. 

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