Obit: Phil Fox (5 Oct 2015)

Subject: Phil Fox (sad news)
From: hsempl
Date: 06 Oct 15 - 12:42 PM

I am sharing the very sad news that Phil passed away at his home last night. I know Severn and Matilda have been contacting people, and might post her himself later, but I wanted to post here because I know many here loved Phil. He had such a wonderful time at the Getaway, he said so many times during the weekend and on the ride home. He loved and appreciated you all so much. "If I had a hammer, I'd hammer in the morning, I'd hammer in the evening, all over this land, I'd hammer out danger, I'd hammer out a warning, I'd hammer out love between my brothers and my sisters all over this land."
Heather

Subject: RE: Phil Fox (sad news)
From: ranger1
Date: 06 Oct 15 - 01:03 PM

Thanks for posting this, Heather. I'm glad he got to spend the weekend at The Getaway.

Subject: RE: Phil Fox (sad news)
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 06 Oct 15 - 01:18 PM

I am in complete shock. It was apparent that Phil was struggling, but I had no idea. He and I spent a lot of time talking and singing together this year. I was proud to loan him my guitar on many occasions. Phil was present at most of the late night sessions, and showed great spirit and energy throughout the Getaway. After I played Half as Much, Phil's was all smiles and said "you can never go wrong with a Hank Williams song." And I remember him singing with gusto on a Hank Cochran song that haunted me all week end. I love Country Music, but Phil was The Man. God, I'll miss him.

Subject: RE: Obit: Phil Fox (5 Oct 2015)
From: jacqui.c
Date: 06 Oct 15 - 03:11 PM

What a shock! He was really enjoying himself every time we saw him and he told me how much he enjoyed getting together with Kendall for some storytelling.

I didn't know him well, but he seemed to be a lovely guy. Condolences to his family and friends.

Subject: RE: Obit: Phil Fox (5 Oct 2015)
From: Abby Sale
Date: 06 Oct 15 - 03:16 PM

I am reeling. I can barely walk or think. A man of superbness. That his parting song was his parting song spins in my head and also is Good.

I'm very glad you were there, Heather.

Oh.

Subject: RE: Obit: Phil Fox (5 Oct 2015)
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Oct 15 - 04:25 PM

A good and giving man. So glad his last days were spent in loving and appreciative company full of healing song.

Linda Zebooker

Subject: RE: Obit: Phil Fox (5 Oct 2015)
From: GUEST,Roger in Baltimore
Date: 06 Oct 15 - 05:35 PM

Since I know I'm not going to die in bed with a bunch of naked ladies, Phil seems to have made the right choice. He loved the Getaway and he loved the people. In the last few years he has chosen (maybe even demanded) to be the last performer for the Sunday concert.

He always spoke of the joy of the Getaway and blessed all those who participated and made it happen. God bless him! and support those who lived with him on a daily basis.

Roger in Baltimore

Subject: RE: Obit: Phil Fox (5 Oct 2015)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 06 Oct 15 - 06:23 PM

It was clear that he was out of sorts and disoriented over the weekend, but he seemed to be enjoying and treasuring every moment. It was a wonderful thing that he decided two years ago to lead the closing song at the Sunday concert, always choosing a song we could all sing together. May we continue that tradition in his memory. He was a good man.
Rest easy, Phil.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Obit: Phil Fox (5 Oct 2015)
From: lisa null
Date: 06 Oct 15 - 08:48 PM

I am trying to think of what Phil meant to me-- the man who introduced me to audiences or gatherings with a flourish and made me feel like a grande dame. The guy who always helped me scoot where I needed to go. One of the few guitarists who could back me up spontaneously so I could sing it just the way I wanted. Someone who would show up at Severn's voice lessons and turn them into a time for stories, advice, and just plain fun. A man always making up dreams for himself to fit into and happy to welcome anyone else into that shared experience. A smart man, A good man. A man who enjoyed the pleasures of living and brightened up the darkest corners....

Subject: RE: Obit: Phil Fox (5 Oct 2015)
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Oct 15 - 09:02 PM

"A man always making up dreams for himself to fit into and happy to welcome anyone else into that shared experience." Perfect words, Lisa!

Subject: RE: Obit: Phil Fox (5 Oct 2015)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Oct 15 - 10:37 PM

It sounds like all of you, his friends, gave him the perfect sendoff with your participation and appreciation at the Getaway. I can't think of a better way to go, after sharing the love of music and each other, then (one hopes) peacefully passing away. I didn't know Phil at all, but I feel the loss simply by reading your words.

But since it fell unto my lot
That I should rise and you should not
I'll gently rise and softly call
"Good night and joy be with you all."

Subject: RE: Obit: Phil Fox (5 Oct 2015)
From: hsempl
Date: 06 Oct 15 - 11:30 PM

Listening to some of the recordings I made this weekend, I found that I have recorded Phil playing and singing "Stand by me" in the Peace cabin Sunday night, then telling us all how much this weekend and everyone at Getaway meant to him, then saying goodnight and (in reference to saying maybe he'd see some of us monday, and lucy pointing out that was actually (at 3 in the morning or whatever time it was) today, and phil laughed and said "one of them days like that"

"when the storms of life are raging, stand by me
when the storms of life are raging, stand by me
when my life is being tossed like a ship out on the sea
thou who rules the wind and water, stand by me"

Subject: RE: Obit: Phil Fox (5 Oct 2015)
From: hsempl
Date: 06 Oct 15 - 11:35 PM

Actually then he said "I'll see you all in the recent future" (after saying "I have one word for Abby: Shit!"

Subject: RE: Obit: Phil Fox (5 Oct 2015)
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 06 Oct 15 - 11:58 PM

Yes he did say that. I had forgotten. "I'll see you all in the recent future". A Yogi Berra style phrase that somehow felt more appropriate than a standard goodbye, and fit Phil to a T.

Subject: RE: Obit: Phil Fox (5 Oct 2015)
From: Dan Schatz
Date: 07 Oct 15 - 12:28 AM

I knew he'd had the stroke, and we talked about that a little. I'm so glad that his last weekend was spent doing what he lived, with people he loved. Too early, by far, but what a way to go.

Dan

Subject: RE: Obit: Phil Fox (5 Oct 2015)
From: Severn
Date: 12 Oct 15 - 07:35 PM

He could have hidden from the tasks before him in reestablishing his life, but instead, he chose to stare his demons in the eye and publicly take them on, letting folks know what happened and singing as many songs as he felt like and maybe back me up on one of our duo numbers if he had the energy. I sang songs with him at his place and drove him around to as many of the local open mics as I could manage to, so that he could sing what he could manage, see his friends and swap stories with them to keep his memory going.

He had come a long way since our friend Sara Hensler had taken him to the VA hospital in great mental and physical disarray. He was still having troubles reading, completing sentences, making phone calls or anything else that involved pressing buttons, remembering lyrics and other things, but he'd come quite a ways. It came and went.Phil was up 'til 3am jamming and talking each night. He could talk lucidly about philosophy one minute and lose track of objects or time the next.

He'd turned off his phone when he got home on Monday and didn't answer calls I made about whether he wanted to come to the Post-Getaway sing that night at Zed's Cafe, so I'd just figured he wanted to sleep things off.

The next morning, his alarm went off and kept going, and his landlord went up to check, only to find he'd passed away in his sleep, and after the landlord had called the ambulance, he called me. The news hit me like a sledgehammer blow to the gut.
We'd been good friends off and on for over forty years and had shared many adventures, songs and friendship, and at times we performed as a duo that he'd christened The Barnyard Prophets. He taught me to sing with accompaniment. He was currently without an automobile, and I helped ferry him around a lot.

I'm still taking it all in. He was like a brother to me, arguments and all, and there's going to be a big hole in my life.......

Subject: RE: Obit: Phil Fox (5 Oct 2015)
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Oct 15 - 01:27 AM

Much love to you Severn. Phil couldn't have had a better friend.

Subject: RE: Obit: Phil Fox (5 Oct 2015)
From: hsempl
Date: 16 Oct 15 - 12:35 PM

A Celebration of the life of Philip E. Fox will be held
Friday, November 6th, 2015
1:00 pm at
Twinbrook Baptist Church
1001 Twinbrook Parkway,
Rockville, MD 20851
Please join us for a pot luck reception in the church fellowship hall immediately after the service. Please feel free to bring a dish to share as well as your voices, acoustic instruments, songs, and stories. You are invited to stay the afternoon and share your memories, good food, and good music.
There is parking at the church. Metro riders can take the red line to Twinbrook station and then take the Rideon Bus #45 Rockville down Twinbrook Parkway. Or from Rockville station take the #45 Twinbrook which goes down Baltimore Rd. We are at the corner of Twinbrook Parkway and Baltimore Rd.

Subject: RE: Obit: Phil Fox (5 Oct 2015)
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Oct 15 - 11:45 PM

I didn't really know Phil but met him 3 years ago when he came to the National Night Out activities sponsored by and at Twinbrook Baptist Church (TBC) in Rockville. He sang at the event, including a couple of my favorite Johnny Cash songs. Got to talk with him during his break. Last year, he was there again and he led the singing of "Happy Birthday" to my Mom who was celebrating her 95th birthday with the 50 to 60 people who were there. It was a most joyous occasion. And Phil was ready to sing again this year on August 4th but a downpour forced the event to be moved inside TBC, where a lot of people got to meet and talk with him.

For those of you who knew Phil better than I did, I've read the comments you have posted and I realize what a loss this is for you. But it sounds as though he had a great last weekend with friends at the Getaway, and who could ask for more than that.

I also have a question about Phil's career. Does anyone know if he worked with or for "The Nighthawks" band. I have an 1976 record album by them called "Open All Night" which lists a live track recorded at the Cellar Door club as "engineered by Phil Fox." (please e-mail: [e-mail])

May you rest in peace my friend, and I along with my brother will be at TBC on Nov. 6th to share memories and celebrate your life.

Dave

Subject: RE: Obit: Phil Fox (5 Oct 2015)
From: GUEST,Severn
Date: 19 Oct 15 - 03:23 PM

Yep! That's him. He worked on support with them for awhile......