In Memoriam - Jon D. Fox

Dennis viewed Jon as his mentor when he started in the political arena. He taught him to always be there for people that need your help, and always be kind and professional at all times. Never tell a person you can’t help them let them know you will investigate it and get back to them. He was a hard worker who worked 20 hours a Day. Jon will be remembered as always helping people.  

Jon supported our group as a sponsor and also with his guidance and leadership. The Ardsley Community Association is a volunteer group made up of people of all ages. in 2014 and 2015, we were going through a storming phase as new members of the group had to mesh with existing members all the while we were trying to find a way to be more organized. Meetings became tense, the simple was now complicated and ideas were taking a long time to take shape. Jon was critical to bringing focus and confidence to the group.

A member of our group, John Abreu, came up with an idea to raise more money to make Ardsley Family Day free to the people. It was a lot of work and we weren't sure if we could pull this off. There was a lot of back and forth and I remember making a statement to make the event free no matter what and we'll find a way to raise money. Jon gave me a thumbs up and said, "That's the spirit. Let's hear it for our new commissioner!" as he looked over at Dennis and smiled. "Watch it you!" Dennis said jokingly pointing at Jon. Everyone in the room laughed. Jon stood up, said John's idea was great and would surely work. Jon got up, wished us a good night and left the room, the tension was lifted even though we still weren't sure how we were going to make this happen. 

The next week a few of us got together to discuss how we were going to execute this plan. Jon was part of this group and he spent much of the time getting to know some us better. The marketing concept was becoming a plan. After spending most of the time agreeing and reassuring us this will work, he once again got up, wished us good night and said, "This is going to work, because you are all doers. Doers make things happen".

Jon was right. Our approach was successful and within a couple years, we doubled our Ardsley Family Day sponsorship and even began sponsoring other organizations. 

You can always tell who is truly in control of a room and it's not in how loud they project or as often as they speak. It's that look confidence, a smile on the face when everyone else has a different emotion and the moment when the room goes quiet when you speak. That was Jon. He definitely had that Cool Hand Luke approach when he was around our group. Judging by the ground swell of support and remembrances of Jon on social media, he was that guy everywhere.  Thanks for your sponsorship to our group and guidance. Rest in peace.

Jim McGuire, proud husband, father and grandfather, will share a story of his two children and four grand children and enjoyed traveling to Virginia to see them. He and his wife, Carol, are willing to drop anything to babysit. He has great times in Wildwood, NJ with his family playing in the sand with the kids and watching them on the boardwalk rides. He loves to go out for ice cream or water ice.   

A good way to understand Jim played out on my back porch in June of 2015. He visited my house to discuss the progress of Ardsley Family Day fundraising. I was a couple days removed from a meniscectomy on my right knee and all Jim worried about was me standing on my own, which by the way is what I was supposed to do from time to time as part of my rehab, but I digress. My mom requested I “sit down and relax”. Jim took it one step further, after I politely declined my mother’s request, he yelled at me to “sit down and relax”. Picture a man near 70 holding himself up with a cane yelling at a man near 40 holding himself up with a crutch to sit down and take it easy. My first thought was, “Jim, go pound sand”. My second thought was this is Jim. He was worried about my well being and wanted to be the voice of concern. Either that or he just felt like yelling at me.