Edward Fox Obituary

Edward Daniel Fox, a lifelong skier and former doctor for the British National Health Service, died Thursday, Nov. 3, 2011, from complications that developed after he suffered a broken hip. Mr. Fox was on holiday in Israel when he died. He was 86.

Mr. Fox was born in London in Nov. 12, 1924, after his parents fled Russia in the aftermath of the Russian Revolution. He attended Kilburn Grammar school in London and, after graduation, enlisted with the Royal Air Force during World War II. He served as an officer and flight instructor. He was posted to Canada and flew mainly Avro Ansons and Gloster Gladiators.

In 1944, while on leave from the Royal Air Force, Mr. Fox learned to ski at Banff in Alberta, Canada. This was to become a lifelong passion.

In 1948, he married Rachel Rosenberg who was the love of his life, and together they had four children. He obtained his medical degree from University College Hospital in London in 1952 and then worked as a general practitioner for the British National Health Service for most of his career. He later became a consultant dermatologist with a successful private practice on Harley Street in London. He was a member of the Royal Society of Medicine.

Mr. Fox 'officially' retired from medicine when he moved to Cyprus in 1986, but continued to practice at a small hospital in Paphos until a few weeks before his death. He loved the Mediterranean climate and swam and played tennis most days.

For 25 years during the winter months, Mr. Fox would return to Colorado to ski, often more than 100 days per year. A few years ago he bought a watch with an altimeter and was proud of skiing more than one million vertical feet that season. His last run, at age 86, was in January 2011 at Purgatory at Durango Mountain Resort. He will surely be missed by local skiers at DMR, the Over-The-Hill-Gang at Copper Mountain and the 10th Mountain Division skiers at Ski Cooper.

Flying also continued to be a major interest and was a focus throughout his life. In 1960, he flew a Tiger Moth solo from London to Rome many years before the advent of GPS and other advanced navigational systems. He was an active member of The Tiger Club in the United Kingdom and flew many of their vintage planes. In his later years, he identified strongly as a humanist and would like to be remembered as such. Mr. Fox enjoyed traveling and, in many ways, died on the trail doing what he loved best.

He is survived by his children Tanya Fox of Buxton, England, Jessica Laughton of Silsden, England, Jonti Fox of Durango and Sebastian Fox of Bat Hefer, Israel; siblings Greg Fox of Jamaica, Leo Fox of Toronto, Canada, Michael Fox of Calgary, Canada, Sasha Smith of Radium Hot Springs, Canada, Gervais Fox of Victoria, Canada and Tessa Fox of Victoria, Canada; one niece and eight grandchildren.

No public memorial service is planned.