PARSIPPANY — Former Morris County Sheriff John M. Fox, Sr., 73, passed away peacefully at his home Saturday, September 26, surrounded by his loving family.
John was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and moved to East Orange as a young child. He lived in Livingston before settling in Parsippany in 1955.
John began his career in public service as a police officer in 1965 with the Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Department, later rising to the rank of detective. In 1975, he was elected Sheriff of Morris County and spent the next 18 years turning the office into a support center for local enforcement. His accomplishments include creating the Crimestoppers program, Sheriff’s Labor Assistance Program (S.L.A.P ), K-9 unit, Sheriff’s Emergency Response Team (S.E.R.T.) and the criminal investigation division.
After his retirement in 1992, John continued his life of public service by serving as a Morris County Freeholder, a Parsippany-Troy Hills councilman, and most recently as a commissioner of the Morris County Board of Elections.
John has been the recipient of numerous awards, including mostly recently the 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award from the State Troopers Coalition.
While his professional accomplishments are many, his greatest joy was his family.
“As a young Sheriff, John Fox had the vision to start Crimestoppers, SLAP, a K-9 Unit, a Bomb Squad and our Criminal investigative Services Unit. His vision laid the foundation for what the Morris County Sheriff’s Office has become today; an award-winning, nationally recognized law enforcement agency. All of our officers and employees have Sheriff Fox’s family in our thoughts and prayers. May they find comfort knowing he has left such a wonderful legacy in the county he loved so very much,” said Sheriff Ed Rochford.
Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen said “John Fox was an old friend who I first met when I got out of the Army back in 1971. He was a great Morris County sheriff and freeholder and left a positive mark on law enforcement in our community , especially his work to establish the Morris County Police and Fire Academy.”
Parsippany-Troy Hills Council President Paul Carifi, Jr., said “I had the honor and the privilege to work for John Fox while he was Morris County Sheriff. Not only was he a visionary but a true leader. The Morris County Sheriff’s Office would not be what it is today if it were not for John Fox. He may be gone but never forgotten.”
Morris County Administrator John Bonanni stated “The entire Morris County family mourns the loss of Sheriff Fox and extends our sincerest condolences to his Family. Sheriff Fox was a natural born leader whose many contributions will remain with Morris County forever to both protect its citizens and symbolize his legacy. He had a unique and instinctive manner that simply and naturally commanded respect. He fostered, maintained and developed a culture of “dedicated creativity” that resulted in the continual development and implementation of so many programs and services designed to keep Morris County safe. Whether serving as Sheriff or Freeholder, John Fox assumed each position with a deep understanding of critical issues and a determined committment to always make improvements were needed. All of his wonderful qualities were topped off with nothing less than a great sense of humor, which kept all of us who worked with him coming back for more. May God Bless Sheriff Fox and his family.”
“Sheriff Fox will be truly missed I had the honor and privilege to work for him for approximately five years. He was a mentor to me and a role model for the Law Enforcement community. Sheriff Fox was an exceptional leader who’s vision had made the Morris County Sheriffs Department what it is today,” said Councilman Louis Valori, Jr.
“John Fox played an important and successful role as a Police Officer/Detective and as the Sheriff of Morris County. One of his goals was to start and grow Crime Stoppers here in Morris County and to this day it is a successful and interactive instrument in fighting crime and allows individuals to be involved and inform law enforcement of any information they may have without the worry of being exposed. I worked with Sheriff Fox at the Morris County Sherriff’s department during his tenure as Sheriff of Morris County. Years later I was his Campaign Chair for his Council seat here in Parsippany. Knowing John and his family has been a long time friendship. Congressman Dean Gallo and my late husband Republican Leader Alex DeCroce were close confidants and John played a large roll in their political careers as well as they did in his. My first thought was sadness for his family and knowing how proud he was to be a grandfather and how unfair it is that he will not be able to see his grandchildren growing up. I know Maryann and the family will make sure they know how important their grandfather was to Morris County and the State of New Jersey. May God Bless him and his family,” said Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce.
Mr. Fox is survived by his devoted wife of 49 years, Mary Ann (nee-Japko), his loving children: John and his wife, Deanna, Michelle Theobald and her husband, Darren, and Karie Golenda and her husband, Michael, and his dear brother and sisters: Vincent and his wife, Cora, Barbara Bullwinkel and husband, Bill and Susan Turner; he is also survived by his five adoring grandchildren: Sienna, Michael, Matthew, Natalie and Ryan.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend his Liturgy of Christian Burial to be offered at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 30 at St. Christopher R.C. Church, 1050 Littleton Road. Interment: Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover.
Visiting hours are on Tuesday Evening from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Par-Troy Funeral Home, 95 Parsippany Road.
In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the 200 Club of Morris County. P.O. Box 1743, Morristown, NJ 07962-1743.
