Last week brought news of the passing of Alan Fox, former owner of Fox Products in South Whitley. The news was announced on the Fox Products social media account late last Wednesday morning.

Fox was the son of Hugo Fox, a renowned American classical bassoonist and maker of bassoons and oboes who founded Fox Products. A champion of the bassoon and double reed instruments, Alan oversaw huge developments at Fox Products during his time leading the company from 1960 to 2012.

The only non-musician in the family, Alan left a career in chemical engineering to run the family bassoon making business. He learned the art of instrument manufacturing and oversaw the company through numerous innovations, including North America’s first contrabassoon, the development of the Renard student line, the creation of polypropylene bassoons, the production of Fox oboe family instruments, and he brought Fox Products to the world stage through international distribution.

When he retired in 2012, Alan left the current owners with this advice:

“Stand beside smart people. Listen to music and ask them what they hear and tell them what you hear, and you’ll develop a correlation between their thinking and yours.”

A full obituary and funeral information can be found here: https://www.smithandsonsfuneralhome.com/obituary/alan-fox