Meet Your Neighbor
Donna Fox
BY MARY LANCASTER INDEPENDENT WRITER

ROB BENCHLEY/The Independent

Born August 25, 1946

Likes most about Nantucket The people.

Likes least about Nantucket The summer traffic.

Favorite TV show Dancing with the Stars and CSI Donna Fox has a warm and ready smile for everyone she greets, and over her years on Nantucket that has added up to a lot of people. Fox, an island native, enjoys interacting with people above all else, and each of her jobs has had a social aspect allowing her to extend her friendship and assistance to the young, old and in between from many walks of life.

Soon after graduating from Nantucket High School in 1965, Fox married her sweetheart, J. L. Fox. They have been married for 42 years. She worked at Holdgate's Laundry for a number of years, during which time the couple began their family. She was a nurse's aide at Nantucket Cottage Hospital for seven years, then spent 20 years at the island's former welfare office with colleague Donna Raab.

"They used to call us 'the Donnas,'" Fox said, remembering their nickname that sounds like a singing act from the 1960s.

Fox said the office moved several times until the state closed the Nantucket branch when an affordable, handicaped accessible location could not be found. She said though the office was there to help, islanders have always been a proud lot and often did not ask for financial aid until they were desperate. Fox next worked as a clerical assistant in the district court office, but was laid off when the state made budget cuts. She took a break for a year, then six years ago became the receptionist at Tresses and The Day Spa, a job she loves for its congenial atmosphere and steady flow of familiar and new faces.

"My next job is retirement," she said, laughing.

In her personal time, Fox treasures being with her children - Rocky, Chris, Cheryl and Aaron - who all live on Nantucket. She also enjoys knitting, crocheting and reading. Most of all, however, she looks forward to visits with her four grandchildren.

"I like to spoil my grandchildren and send them back home," she said, with what appeared to be a mischievous twinkle in her eye.

Once a year she goes to Cancun with her sister from New Bedford. Fox said that used to be a dream trip, but now they have a timeshare there to guarantee their vacation.

"That about does me in with traveling," said Fox, pretty much a homebody and a person very content with life on Nantucket.

"I'm happy. My children are all healthy and have their own homes - which I never thought would happen - and they are all happy," she said.

"If they're happy, I'm happy." I