Mary Lou Fox

Some knew her as Mom. As party planner and hostess extraordinaire. Some as a very generous philanthropist. Others as a tireless volunteer to non-profits. Some as a super savvy, highly successful business woman. And many others knew her as just Mary Lou Fox, fiercely loyal friend and “some kind of wonderful.” Mary Lou passed away on January 3rd at the age of 85, but her fun-loving ways and bright-burning spirit will continue to light peoples’ lives at the mere mention of her name. The positive impact she had – and will continue to have – on so many lives is truly her legacy. Young, impoverished Guatemalan girls can learn marketable skills while attending the Myra Thompson School For Working Women Mary Lou established, and named after her mother. Economically disadvantaged, minority boys will be able to continue to attend St. John’s Jesuit High School via the school’s innovative 2020 program Mary Lou helped pioneer and develop into a program being replicated across the nation. Musically inclined St. John’s students will have the benefit of the school’s Technology Center Music Laboratory which Mary Lou helped launch. Have no doubt that Mary Lou will live on and on in many ways. Of course she might tell you her success all came about due to “dumb luck” but most close observers know it took a lot more than that to start and grow a business – Westhaven Pharmacy – from zero to $30 million a year. Or that, after she sold her business to Omnicare, Inc. she would – in only seven years – help steer that company’s growth from $300 million annually to become the nation’s largest $1.5 billion institutional pharmacy. Those business feats came from Mary Lou’s dedication and demanding work ethic combined with her uncanny ability to recognize opportunities and to innovate and improvise her way to overcoming business challenges. She was living the idea of constantly improving long before “constant improvement” became a popular business buzz phrase. Her forward thinking always positioned her to out maneuver her competitors and win over the customers she held onto so dearly. Mary Lou was preceded in death by her husband William Fox and by her beloved son, Carty. Surviving Mary Lou are her two cherished daughters, Myra Foley and Ginna Foley, both of Perrysburg. Also surviving are grandchildren, Todd (Machiko) Underwood, Adam (Rathna) Phlegaar and Amanda (Frankie) Winiarski and six great grandchildren, Gabriel, Julian, Sophie, Mary, Rei, and Elliott. A memorial service is being planned for the Spring. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Witzler-Shank Funeral Home, Perrysburg (419-874-3133). Mary Lou’s family asks that tributes be made to one of the following: 1) International Samaritan (Myra Thompson School for Working Women), 803 North Main St., Ann Arbor MI 48104 or 2) Carty Fox Scholarship Fund, St. John's Jesuit High School, 5901 Airport Highway, Toledo, Ohio 43615 or 3) Gina Rhienfrank Foley Endowment Fund For The Beautification Of Campus, University of Toledo (MCO Campus).