Longtime Humboldt State Professor Dr. Stephen Carey Fox Dies at 87

Fox was a renowned scholar of the WWII internment of Italian and German Americans and an avid bicycle adventurer.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 6:35pm

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An extremely blurred, impressionistic photograph of a bicycle wheel in a soft, warm color palette, conveying a sense of motion and exploration.The late Dr. Stephen Carey Fox's lifelong love of bicycle touring embodied his passion for experiencing the American story up close and personal.Pensacola Today

Dr. Stephen Carey Fox, a professor of American history at Humboldt State University for over four decades, passed away in March 2026 at the age of 87. Fox was a respected scholar who authored award-winning books on the little-known internment of Italian and German Americans during World War II, and he was also an avid bicycle tourist who explored the United States and Europe in search of the American story.

Why it matters

Dr. Fox's work brought greater awareness to an overlooked chapter of American history, shedding light on the unjust treatment of Italian and German Americans during WWII. As a lifelong educator and adventurer, he inspired generations of students and fellow historians to uncover the nuances of the American experience.

The details

After serving in the Navy as a bombardier/navigator, Fox pursued his passion for teaching American history at Humboldt State University, where he spent four decades. His award-winning oral history publications, books, and articles helped stimulate wider interest in the story of the WWII internment of Italian and German Americans, a topic he became the pre-eminent scholar on. In retirement, Fox turned to writing fiction, exploring themes that interested him such as crime, art history, and the Second Amendment.

  • Dr. Fox was born in November 1938 in Hagerstown, Indiana.
  • He served in the Navy from the early 1960s, including deployments to the Western Pacific as part of America's nuclear deterrent force.
  • Fox taught American history at Humboldt State University for four decades, from the 1970s through the 2000s.
  • His award-winning books and articles on the WWII internment of Italian and German Americans were published between 1990 and 2009.
  • Dr. Fox passed away in March 2026 at the age of 87.

The players

Dr. Stephen Carey Fox

A professor of American history at Humboldt State University for over four decades, known for his award-winning scholarship on the WWII internment of Italian and German Americans, as well as his passion for bicycle touring.

Françoise Vermeirsch Fox

Dr. Fox's wife of 50 years, who preceded him in death.

Sheila McClure Ross

Dr. Fox's beloved wife and revered colleague in the Art History department at Humboldt State University, who survives him.

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What they’re saying

“I never felt more alive or complete. My entire world—possessions, thoughts, everything I had or needed—existed within a bubble surrounding my bicycle and me.”

— Dr. Stephen Carey Fox

The takeaway

Dr. Stephen Carey Fox's life was defined by his passion for teaching American history, his groundbreaking scholarship on the overlooked internment of Italian and German Americans during WWII, and his adventurous spirit as an avid bicycle tourist. His legacy will continue to inspire students, historians, and adventurers alike.