Stephen Carey Fox, whose award-winning oral history publications, books and articles helped stimulate a wider interest in the mostly unknown story of the relocation and internment of Italian and German Americans during World War II, died in March. His book, The Unknown Internment, won an American Book Award.
Born and raised in Hagerstown, Indiana, he was active in Boy Scouts, played high school football, and tackled the trumpet and French horn (as appropriate) in a variety of musical ensembles. Steve joined the Navy after graduation from DePauw University.
His Navy experience stimulated his desire to teach the American story he believed had been forgotten, distorted, ignored or preempted by other disciplines; that decision opened the door to the rest of his life. Steve’s career at Humboldt State University where he taught American history spanned four decades.
Bicycle touring was another passion. When German American Internee Coalition members and staff at Manzanar had a major exhibit there in 2006, Steve came to the opening event by bicycle from his home in Northern California. He also traversed the country several times, in search of the American story he loved, slow and up close.
We will miss him.