J. Wesley Fox

June 29, 1951 - October 31, 2017

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Obituary For J. Wesley Fox

Beloved husband, father, and entrepreneur J. Wesley Fox III died on October 31, 2017 in Raleigh, North Carolina at the age of 66. He was born on June 29, 1951 in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, the eldest son of the late J. Wesley and Lois Fox. He attended South Allegheny High School in Port Vue, PA where he was the captain of the debate club and a star baseball player. He received a baseball scholarship to attend Washington & Jefferson College in Washington, PA not far from his hometown. He became a member of the fraternity Alpha Tau Omega and received a commission into the United States Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps.

After graduation from Washington & Jefferson, he went on to attend graduate school, obtaining a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Kansas University in 1979. He did his post-doctoral work with Dr. Billy Hudson. After his post-doc work, he took research and development positions at Abbott Labs and Idexx Laboratories.

His first son, J. Wesley Fox IV was born in 1982 followed by his second son, Jonathan M. Fox in 1985. He was a devoted father to both sons, supporting them in their academic and professional careers.

In his later years, Dr. Fox liked to refer to himself as a “serial entrepreneur” referring to his work in founding several companies throughout his thirty-year career. In 1989, he helped found RiboGene Inc., a company based out of California that was among the first to collaborate with scientists in the Soviet Union. That company later became EnzyMed, which was acquired by Albany Molecular Research. Next came his role as Chief Scientific Officer of BioStratum Inc., a biotech company that was founded near Chicago, Illinois but later relocated to Raleigh, North Carolina. He moved there along with his wife in 2001 and continued is work until 2005, when he helped found yet another company, NephroGenex Inc. He worked as the Chief Scientific Officer as well as its Chief Executive Officer for several years before moving on to yet even more projects. At the time of his death, he was working on launching three new companies all developing cutting edge medical technologies in diverse areas, including therapies for diabetes, acute kidney injury, fibrosis, and cancer.

He was also a loving and devoted husband to his wife, Susan Fox. They traveled the globe together and lived in numerous cities across the country, but also spent countless nights at home watching movies, enjoying wine on the porch. Dr. Fox was also an avid piano player throughout his life and loved to entertain family and friends performing classical works as well as composing renditions of popular songs from Garth Brooks’ “The Dance” to Metallica’s “Nothing Else Matters.”

He is survived by his wife Susan Fox, his two sons J. Wesley and Jonathan, his sister Christine Noble and her husband Dorsey, his niece Elizabeth Craig, and his nephew Jesse Noble. He is preceded in death by his brother Kevin Fox.

In lieu of flowers, his family would like donations made to the American Heart Association, in memorial to his life and his long, dedicated career to advancing medical science. Donations can be made at the AHA website here: https://donatenow.heart.org/.

Services

5 Nov

Visitation

12:00 PM - 01:00 PM

Renaissance Funeral Home & Cremation Tribute Center 7615 Six Forks Rd Raleigh, NC 27615 Get Directions »
5 Nov

Funeral Service

01:00 PM - 02:00 PM

Renaissance Funeral Home & Cremation Tribute Center 7615 Six Forks Rd Raleigh, NC 27615 Get Directions »
by Obituary Assistant

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Condolences

  • September 01, 2020

    Georgia Smedema

    Wes was a wonderful man who without hesitation stepped up to the plate to be an uncle to my two kids. He was a brilliant man with a soft heart and obvious love and dedication to his wife and family. Last time I saw Wes, I found out he was a NASCAR fan. Never wouldve guessed. Susan told me long ago that he would sit down at the piano and play Fur Elise for her (how romantic!). Since then, every time Ive heard it, Ive thought of him and Susan. We are mourning with you. Georgia

  • September 01, 2020

    Mark Alexander

    Fair winds and following seas, Col Fox.

  • September 01, 2020

    Jeanette Donahue

    My family will truly miss Wes and spending time with him. His kindness, generosity, and intelligence, as well as his wide range of interests, always made conversations with him fun and interesting. These traits of his shone through especially to me in how he treated my Aunt Susan as his wife and I know the loss of him will be a hole in her heart forever. My memories of them together are as fun, loving companions whenever we visited together. Wes made an effort to get to know me as Susan's niece from attending my wedding in Kauai to stopping in for visits at our house when they were back in the Chicago area to opening their homes for us to visit anytime. Family was always important to him. One of my fondest memories is one time when Wes and Susan were visiting at our house, he held my older son who was a baby back then that often cried around people he didn't know well but he took right to Wes and Wes was so gentle and soothing with him. We will miss you, Wes but treasure the impact you had on our lives and the lives of others that knew and loved you. Rest in peace. Love, Jeanette, Charles, Benjamin and Logan

  • September 01, 2020

    Kay Ludwick Cook

    My thoughts and prayers are with you during the loss of your brother. I didn't know Wesley like I know his sister, Christine, but I can tell from the comments that he was a wonderful man and was admired by all who knew him. Christine, I am so sorry for your loss. Your brother will always be with you through the precious memories that you shared. I will be thinking of you as you send your brother to his heavenly home. May it give you comfort know he is in the loving arms of our Heavenly Father.

  • September 01, 2020

    Hudson Lab

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  • September 01, 2020

    Mark A Klausner

    I will miss you a lot Wes as will lots of others. You had a great impact on many people, I being just one. This was too soon. Rest in peace Wes. Mark Klausner

  • September 01, 2020

    Mark Klausner

    I worked alongside Wes for quite a few years at Nephrogenex. I am shocked and saddened. He was taken from us too soon. A wonderful person and he will be sorely missed. RIP Wes. Mark Klausner

  • September 01, 2020

    Dennis Lynch

    Wes and I were classmates at South Allegheny high school and he was a good friend. I know he was a good husband and father and will surely be missed by everyone he loved and knew. Dennis Lynch

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