Fourth of July celebrations in Alexandria are traditionally low key as the city formally celebrates its own birthday a week later with a fireworks display over the Potomac River. The exception was the Old Town home of Art Fox, where for years an invitation to his annual Independence Day party was one of the most sought after in town.
“Art’s parties were notorious,” said Fox’s sister Francis Schreiber. “An invitation to one of them was pretty coveted among his friends. But once you received one, you knew you were a friend for life.”
Due to renovations at his home on S. Lee Street, Fox was unable to hold the event in 2014. Not wanting to miss another chance to entertain family and friends, he decided to hold this year’s annual bash in May.
“The gods were definitely looking down on Art this year,” said Kathy Seifert, a neighbor and close friend. “It was one of the most beautiful days of the entire year, with crystal clear, crisp skies. Art was just so happy to see everyone enjoying themselves. He was thrilled to be able to have that party.”
Fox, a member of the Alexandria Waterfront Commission and Board of Governors for the Old Dominion Boat Club, died at his home just eight weeks later on July 14 of complications from cancer. He was 72.
“Art was like a brother to me,” said Paul Rapchak, a friend of Fox for more than 20 years. “If you didn’t know him, you might think he was a curmudgeon but there was no one more generous than Art Fox. This is a devastating loss.”
Born Arthur V. Fox on Sept. 19, 1942 in Salt Lake City, Fox was the son of Abraham Fox and Ida Taxin Fox. The family later moved to Washington, D.C., where Fox graduated from Calvin Coolidge High School in 1960. He went on to earn a degree in metallurgy from the Carnegie Institute of Technology (now Carnegie Mellon) in Pennsylvania.
Fox served as president for almost three decades at The Chem-Met Company, which was founded by his father in 1950. In the 1970s, Fox began working with Chinese exporters to establish what would become a long and successful collaboration in international metals trading. Now one of the leading tungsten importers in the United States, the company evolved under Fox’s direction into a national and international supplier of specialty metals and chemicals, including molybdenum chemicals.
Throughout his life, Fox enjoyed traveling, scuba diving, boating, an occasional card game and a meal at the newest restaurant in town. He was passionate about the local sports teams, especially the Washington Capitals, Nationals and Redskins, and was known for his regular attendance at sporting events in appropriate game day attire.
“Art especially loved being out on the water,” Rapchak said. “He loved taking friends out on his boat for a ride along the Potomac.”
John Bordner served with Fox on the Waterfront Commission
“Through visits to the Boat Club, I got to know the fun-loving — though philosophical at times — side of Art,” Bordner said. “But it was serving with him on the Waterfront Commission where I really saw his love and true concern for the City of Alexandria. He was a very well respected member of the commission and his dedication to this city will be missed.”
From 1996 to 2000, Fox was president of the Refractory Metals Association. In addition to the Boat Club, he was a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, #871. Over the years, Fox supported a variety of organizations including the Santa Claus Yacht Club, the Alexandria Seaport Foundation, the Wounded Warrior Project and the Leukemia Lymphoma Poker Run.
Once a year, Fox would dress up as an elf for the Boat Club’s annual Christmas party for children with special needs.
“Art was a real character,” Seifert said. “And to the end, he was a fighter. He didn’t want to give up.”
Fox is survived by his son, Mike Fox, and granddaughter, Harper, of Sausalito, Calif.; son, Victor Fox, and daughter, Kelley Fox, both of Alexandria; sister, Frances Fox Schreiber (Jan), of Brookline, Mass.; brother, Sam Fox (Elizabeth), of Sperryville, Va.; as well as numerous extended family members and friends.
A celebration of life will be held at the Old Dominion Boat Club July 25 at 6 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Fox’s name to Santa Claus Yacht Club, Inc., scycva.org; the Old Dominion Boat Club Children with Special Needs Christmas Party, 1 King Street, Alexandria, Va. 22314; or a charity of one’s choice.