Donald Melville Fox

Donald Melville Fox (“Don”), 70, of Dallas passed away peacefully among family and friends who loved him dearly on July 13, 2013. Don will always be remembered as a loving father and grandfather, successful businessman and loyal friend to many.

He was born on July 22, 1942 to German immigrants, Melville “Ernest” and Herta Fox in New York City. Don earned a BA from Wagner College, Staten Island, NY in 1964. Immediately thereafter, Don matriculated into the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned an MBA.

Don was a very successful reinsurance broker beginning his career in the early 1960s in London, England. In the late 1970s, he founded Texas Interocean, a Dallas-based reinsurance intermediary. In 1985, Don started H.S. Fox Corporation with associates Robert Henderson and Alan Shepard. The three began the business on a card table, eventually growing it to the largest business of its kind in Texas. Not only was Donald proud of the company he and his team built, but he also took equal pleasure in the great friendships he formed along the way.

In 2001, Don declared an early retirement, deciding to focus his time on his hobbies, including cooking and golf, and helping others. During this time, he was particularly involved with Wagner College, where he served as a Trustee for many years. He also collaborated with college staff at Wagner to establish the Fox Fellows program which supported educational opportunities for students to improve public health and welfare to people locally in New York City, as well as impoverished people overseas in areas including Bangladesh and Peru.

Don loved helping people achieve education and opportunity. He always enjoyed meeting and helping those that came to America to have a better life, remembering the same path that his parents took.

Don is survived by his son Graham, his wife Bradley and their daughters Caroline and Campbell of Dalton, GA, as well as his son Alex and his wife Landy and their daughters Evie and Callan of Dallas, TX. He is also survived by his sister Lillian Kneissi of Rockville, MD and brother-in-law Charles Barnett of Queens, NY.

A Memorial Service will be held 2:00 pm, Thursday, July 18, 2013 at Sparkman/Hillcrest Northwest Highway Chapel, 7405 W. Northwest Hwy., Dallas, TX 75225 with Rev. Bruce Buchanan officiating. In lieu of flowers Memorials may be made to Wagner College (1 Campus Road, Staten Island, NY 10301 – please note “Fox Fellows” in Memo line) and The Stewpot (First Presbyterian Church, 1835 Young Street Dallas, TX 75201). Online condolences can be made at www.Sparkman-Hillcrest.com.