Barry Fox, a relentless civic advocate who spent more than three decades fighting to preserve Merrick’s suburban character and safeguard the quality of life for local residents, died on Nov. 18. He was 85.
Born on Jan. 24, 1940, in New Haven, Connecticut, Fox lived in Merrick for more than 50 years, becoming one of the community’s most influential watchdogs. He served for decades as president of the Merrick Park Home Owners Association, leading efforts to curb overdevelopment, stop environmentally hazardous projects and push for improvements in local infrastructure.
For his strong local advocacy, he was named the Merrick Herald’s Person of the Year in 2003.
A retired New York City schoolteacher, Fox also was a husband, father of three, grandfather of 14 and great-grandfather of one.
To many, Fox was reminiscent of George Bailey from “It’s a Wonderful Life” — an unassuming, selfless everyman whose quiet leadership helped shape the place he loved. Residents often said that without Fox, Merrick would look very different.
Under his leadership, the Merrick Park Home Owners Association grew to nearly 200 members and developed into one of the region’s most active civic groups. Fox encouraged generations of residents to engage in local government, offering guidance, mentorship and a steadfast example of community involvement.
From the 1980s through the 2000s, Fox played a central role in nearly every major zoning battle affecting Merrick. In 1984, he helped lead a successful fight against Bonded Brakes Inc., a brake factory that reportedly handled asbestos and sought to expand near homes along Hewlett Avenue. After a rally that drew more than 350 residents, the company withdrew its zoning application.
He later helped block the conversion of a Foodtown supermarket into a 24-hour food-storage warehouse that would have brought heavy truck traffic near Chatterton School. And in 1994, after extensive lobbying, the homeowners association persuaded the Town of Hempstead to condemn a decrepit junkyard and rat-infested wood lot at Sunrise Highway and Hewlett Avenue, replacing it with a commuter parking lot.
Fox also opposed a planned Checkers fast-food restaurant at a dangerous intersection, fought the installation of a 100-foot cell tower across from Chatterton, and joined regional efforts to challenge emissions from Freeport’s diesel Power Plant No. 2 — even marching dressed as the Grim Reaper to draw attention to environmental risks posed by the plant.
In addition, he played a key role in negotiating improvements to the Merrick Mall, long criticized for being marred with graffiti and poor upkeep. During a 2003 zoning hearing on Stop & Shop’s renovation plans, Fox presented a detailed list of concerns from Merrick Woods’ residents. The supermarket ultimately agreed to numerous conditions, including landscaping upgrades, odor mitigation, increased security, equipment relocation and redesigned parking and loading areas.
Fox also spearheaded efforts to create a memorial honoring the 17 Merrick and North Merrick residents killed on Sept. 11, 2001, helping secure $15,000 in grants to build a wrought-iron gate and commemorative plaque at a local nature preserve. He insisted that local high school students help design the memorial, turning the project into a civics lesson for them.
While Fox was a fierce advocate in the public arena, his wife Sandra said his greatest devotion was to his family.
She remembered their first meeting as young graduate students at Hunter College, traveling home together on the same train and quickly realizing they shared a vision for a large, loving family.
“I knew I wanted him to be the father of my children,” she said. “He was kind, giving, caring — and as a husband, he was the same.”
They ultimately raised three daughters — Amy, Heather and Sara — and built a home filled with “laughter and joy,” Sandra said. Their 14 grandchildren, one great-grandchild — with three more on the way — were the highlights of his days.
“My father was my best friend, my confidant and my protector,” his daughter, Amy, wrote to the Herald. “He was larger than life, truly a unicorn. A force of nature and an agent of change in the community, a leader and a fighter.”
“He spoke to at least one grandchild every single day, no matter how young or old — 3 to 30. Grandpa was there to listen,” she added.
Fox was known for his sharp intellect and remarkable memory. Though he could have chosen a more lucrative career, Sandra said, “what he wanted most was to help people.” He spent years as a history teacher in New York City junior high schools and later as a homebound instructor, working with the city’s most vulnerable students. In his second career as a college financial-aid consultant, he helped thousands of young adults pursue higher education.
“My father was an excellent communicator with a great understanding of human nature,” Heather said. “He was an extraordinary man on every level in a way that is difficult to articulate. His deep connection to his Jewish heritage in the study of Torah and his daily prayers brought him solace and comfort.”
“Our loss is not only personal, but one that will be deeply felt by the community,” Sandra said.
Fox is survived by his wife, Sandra; their three daughters, Amy, Heather and Sarah; 14 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
