Robert "Bob" Alan Fox
September 05, 1943 - October 01, 2021
Dr. Robert Alan “Bob” Fox, 78, of Hilo, Hawaii died on the 1st of October 2021 at home. Born in Portland, Oregon and raised in New York City, he moved to Hilo in 1971. He was a Professor Emeritus of Physics and long-time Chair of the Physics and Astronomy Department at UH-Hilo and served as founding Deputy Director of the Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Studies. Dr. Fox was a member of the Rotary Club of Hilo, the Hilo Yacht Club, the National Education Association, the American Educational Research Association, and the Wine Connection. He was an elected member of the Hawaii State Board of Education (1992-96), Chair of the NEA Higher Education Caucus, Vice Chair of the American Association of University Professors Collective Bargaining Congress and was President of the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly and Commodore of the Hilo Yacht Club. Dr. Fox has served on the Boards of the Hilo YMCA, the Hawaii Island United Way, the Rotary Club of Hilo, the Hilo Chapter of Sigma Xi, and the Aloha United Way. He was Senior Editor of the Journal of School Choice and was Chair of the International School Choice and Reform Conference. He is the author, co-author or editor of two books, chapters in five additional books, 12 book reviews for the American Library Association, 20 professional articles and 16 refereed papers or presentations on School Choice, and 38 papers or publications on various aspects of physics and space exploration.
He is survived by his wife and partner, Dr. Nina Buchanan; his son, Jordan Michael (Terry) Fox; Grandchildren, Devon Roberto Fox, Justin Enrique Fox and was a beloved father to his predeceased youngest son, Daniel Gideon Fox (1968-1989). A Celebration of Life will be held at Dodo Mortuary Chapel in Hilo, Hawaii on October 20, 2021 (Wednesday) from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.; service will begin at 11:00 a.m. Seating is limited. Face masks and social-distancing required. Casual attire is requested.
| Dear Robert, | | Robert A. Fox passed away peacefully on October 1st, 2021, after a valiant battle with cancer. “The Silver Fox” was known to and admired by many as a co-founder and long-time Chair of the highly successful International School Choice & Reform Conference (ISCRC). He also served as a Senior Editor of the Journal of School Choice and co-editor of several influential school choice books with his wife, Nina Buchanan. He will be greatly missed. | | Bob Fox was a physicist by academic training. After partnering with Nina, he became interested in public charter schools in their home state of Hawaii, providing his entrée into the world of school choice. Initially, Bob and Nina worked to build their network of school choice researchers and scholars through the annual meetings of the American Education Research Association (AERA). As Bob, Nina and I describe in an essay forthcoming in the Journal of School Choice, AERA was a limiting venue in many respects. Bob wanted more: more school choice colleagues, representing a greater diversity of views on choice, across more countries. With that motivation, Bob worked with Nina, Judith Stein, John Merrifield, and me to found and grow the ISCRC. |
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| | | Bob was an outstanding convener, moderator and host. One could always locate him at school choice research gatherings, with his shock of long gray hair and omnipresent Hawaiian shirt. He made everyone feel welcome and kept the trains running on time. He was an organizer par excellence but also had a keen sense of the questions and comments that would advance a discussion. A discussion with Bob Fox always got to the heart of the matter. | | Bob Fox was a great friend. He always performed more than his fair share of the work in any collaborative project. He was refreshingly honest and frank. He was generous and welcoming, especially to people unlike himself. We had a lot of fun with “Fox-Wolf” puns. We shared an occasional glass of wine, many common friends, and a commitment to sustaining the collegial and productive nature of the ISCRC. Bob Fox had a great life. We will keep his spirit, and Nina’s wellbeing, in our thoughts and prayers. For all of you who can journey to Dublin in January for the ISCRC, please do. There we shall gather to obtain knowledge and enjoy fellowship, and to say a final farewell to The Silver Fox. | | We are raising funds to memorialize Bob by endowing the Robert A. Fox Memorial Distinguished Service Award, to be given annually to a person who has worked tirelessly, as Bob did, to support the ISCRC. To donate, please contact Keri Hunter at keri@iscrweb.org. | | | | Patrick | | | | Patrick J. Wolf, Ph.D. | | Distinguished Professor and 21st Century Endowed Chair in School Choice | | Interim Department Head | | Department of Education Reform | | College of Education and Health Professions | | 201 Graduate Education Building | | University of Arkansas | | Fayetteville, AR 72701 | | Phone: 479-575-2084 | | Cell: 479-445-9821 | | FAX: 479-575-3196 | | pwolf@uark.edu |
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