Rita Louise Fox

Rita was born and raised in New York City, first the Bronx and then Queens. Her childhood was filled with love and laughter. She was always surrounded by family including her parents Jean and Joseph Weiss, older brother Melvin and a myriad of cousins, aunts and uncles. She fondly recalled spending summers with this tight-knit extended family (“The Bystock Cousins Club”) at Cohen’s Family Farm in the Catskills.

Rita married Martin Fox in 1958 and the couple made their way from Queens to Connecticut to Fort Lee and eventually Oradell, New Jersey where they raised their children Samantha and Joshua.

Rita was an elementary school teacher for 10 years, putting her husband through law school. She stopped teaching to have a family and when, at the old age of 30 she became a mother she focused her boundless energy into her children. From cheering Josh on at wrestling meets (with eyes closed) to family ski trips to shopping trips, Rita was there. She was an advocate for her children and a leader amongst her friends. She was always involved in the schools from her first time winning the election for PTA President up to President of the Board of Education for the River Dell School District which she held for two terms. She fought for the causes she believed in and was loved and respected by administrators and teacher alike. When her children went off to college she became a Realtor, she and her partner Susan Teichholz were a star team for 30 years.

As devoted as she was to her family, Rita always carved out time for fun. She collected and kept many devoted friends in each phase of her life. She loved nothing more than planning all sorts of trips and celebrations – from simple mah jong and bridge games to birthday lunches at wonderful restaurants. Rita and Marty both loved to spend weekends gambling in Atlantic City, skiing in Tahoe or traveling the world – together, with dear friends, or family.

In her later years, Rita embraced the role of grandmother. She never turned down an opportunity to take her beloved grandchildren shopping at Bloomingdales or on holiday to Cape May or Las Vegas.

Rita will be deeply missed by many. She leaves behind a devoted family: husband Marty, daughter Samantha, son Joshua and daughter in law Erica as well as four grandchildren: Justin, Maya, Aidan and Jocelyn — as well as a dear sister-in-law, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, many beloved cousins and cherished friends.

Contributions in Rita’s memory can be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation or the Anti-Defamation League.

https://venue.livecontrol.io/watch/avodat-shalom for the funeral service on Zoom.

All are invited back to Joshua & Erica's home following the interment

75 Pleasant Avenue, Upper Saddle River, NJ

Minyan at 5:00pm

Shiva will be held Monday at Joshua & Erica's from 4:0pm-7:00pm

Minyan at 6:30pm.