William L. ‘Bill’ Fox

NORTH CANAAN — William L. “Bill” Fox, 96, died peacefully on Nov. 20, 2014, in his residence at Geer Village. Bill was born March 27, 1918, in Auburn, N.Y., the son of the late Majorie (Leonard) and William L. Fox. He was educated in North Staffordshire, England, at Cotton College. While there he was captain of the rugby, field hockey, cricket and cross-country teams.Upon returning to the United States, he worked at the French American Bank & Trust Co. in New York City before serving more than five years in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was a combat liaison officer with the 629th Tank Division until he was wounded in Caumont, France. Bill was a Purple Heart recipient and retired from the service as 1st lieutenant.He spent the next 35 years selling life insurance throughout the Northwest Corner of Connecticut. In 1964, Bill was honored as the number one top salesman for the Great West Life Assurance Co., both in the U.S. and Canada.Bill was a member of the Elk’s Club of Torrington and a 32nd Degree Mason and was also recently honored by the Rotary Club of Salisbury as a founding member. He was also a member of the Salisbury Congregational Church.Bill’s next “career” took him to the “links” to become the oldest PGA teaching pro in Connecticut. After a five-year apprenticeship, he completed the program and in 1980 at the age of 62 became known as “Mr. Senior Golfer.” Five years later, he received the honor of Professional of the Year for the Connecticut Section of the PGA. Bill created the Connecticut Senior Open Tournament, and it has been held every year since, with a trophy in his name presented to the winner. At age 92, Bill gave his last teaching lesson and decided it was time to put the clubs away and relax a bit and play his flute.On Dec. 1 of this year, Bill was to have been inducted into the Connecticut Section PGA Hall of Fame, perhaps one of his proudest achievements. The award will be accepted by his son, Jeff Fox, and daughter, Jennifer (Fox) Harnett, in his honor.Bill was married to his beloved wife, Trudi (Lubrecht) Fox, for 67 years. They called the Northwest Corner their home during that time. He is survived by four children, Bill and his wife, Lynne, of Panama, Central America, Betsy and her husband, George Reinholt, of Longmont, Colo., Jeff and his wife, Mary Ann (Schaefer), of Cornwall and Jennifer and her husband, Andrew Harnett, of Grandview, N.Y.; seven grandchildren, Tim Reinholt and his wife, Monika, Chris Reinholt, Laura, Charlie and Oliver Fox and Lindsay and Chase Harnett; and two great-grandchildren, Cora and Etta Reinholt.Memorial donations in his name will be gratefully received by the Salisbury Rotary Club Foundation, care of Rotary Club of Salisbury, P.O. Box 287, Salisbury, CT 06068. A celebration of life will take place in the spring in Lakeville. Arrangements are under the care of the Newkirk-Palmer Funeral Home in North Canaan.