Robert A. Fox ’51

Robert A. Fox ’51, a widely honored Philadelphian who, with wife Penny, contributed greatly to that city’s universities and cultural institutions, died on April 14 after a long illness. Bob left Dartmouth and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied economics and was a stalwart on the football team. He went on to become a highly successful businessman and entrepreneur. He formed, built, and led enterprises in home building, waste management, building products, consumer products, and healthcare. In all of these businesses he was admired for his uncompromising integrity. Bob was especially dedicated to the University of Pennsylvania. He served on its board of trustees for 36 years. He founded the Robert A. Fox Leadership Program to help educate future leaders through a combination of coursework, service, and special events. More than 10,000 Penn undergraduates have participated in the program. Bob’s leadership was also instrumental in transforming Penn’s Wistar Institute from a little-known research center into an international leader in cancer research and vaccine development. He chaired Wistar’s board of trustees for 10 years and was a highly successful fundraiser for Wistar and many other initiatives that enhanced the university. Bob was recognized with the University of Pennsylvania Alumni Award of Merit as well as the Wistar Award. Bob was an avid golfer and enjoyed vacations in Nantucket, Massachusetts. His greatest joy was his family, and his survived by Penny, to whom he was married for 68 years; four children; and nine grandchildren.