Gerard F. Fox

Gerard F. Fox a 50 year resident of Garden City and part time resident of East Hampton NY died Dec 12, 2008. Beloved husband for 59 years of Jeanne McNulta. The loving father of daughters Patricia Townsend (dec. 2002), Maureen (Rodney VenJohn), Catherine (Genaro Lozano) & Elizabeth. Devoted grandfather of Madeline VenJohn & Joseph Lozano. He was the brother of Grace McCabe & Donald Fox, and deceased siblings; Joseph, James, and Robert Fox and Dolores McCormack.

He was born in 1923 in Manhattan, graduated from LaSalle Academy & served in the Army Air Corps in WWII. He graduated from Cornell University (civil engineering) with distinction (1948), was elected to Tau Beta Pi & Chi Epsilon, and a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon.

He was a bridge designer at HNTB Corp for 40 years retiring in 1988 having been a Partner for 21 years. A renowned expert in bridge design, he continued to consult on major bridge projects for Caltrans including the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge until 2007.

His designs for the Rio-Niteroi Bridge in Brazil & the Dames Point Bridge in Florida were awarded the ACEC Grand Conceptor award. He received the ASCE Howard & Roebling awards for innovation in long span bridges. He had other notable projects including: the Delaware Memorial Bridge, The Penang Bridge in Malaysia, the NJ Turnpike & the Newark Bay Bridge.

A mentor to many engineers, he taught bridge design at Columbia University for twenty years teaching computer applications and bridge design. He was awarded the first Adjunct Professor Award in 1986 for outstanding contributions to the School through inspired and effective teaching. He lectured at many other Universities, including courses on bridge design at Cornell University. He was very involved in the Cornell Engineering Alumni having served as President of the Cornell Society of Engineers. He received a Honorary Dr. of Science from The New Jersey Institute of Technology (1995).

He was elected to membership in the National Academy of Engineering (1976). He was very active in professional organizations throughout his career receiving many honors. Some of these organizations are: American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)-Honorary Member (1989), International Association of Bridge and Structural Engineers (IABSE) -Honorary Member (1988), American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA)-Committee 15 Member Emeritus, Structural Stability Research Council (SSRC)-Life Member, The Moles - 40 years Life Member (2008), Post Tensioning Institute (PTI) , Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) , Transportation Research Board (TRB)

He loved surf-fishing at Montauk Point. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Thursday December 18th at St. Josephs Church in Garden City. Donations appreciated to Cornell University (note for Gerard Fox) Box 223623, Pittsburgh PA 1525 1-2623.