Lawrence “Larry” Fox, 76, of River Forest, died on March 11, 2026. Born on Aug. 31, 1949, he was a Cook County judge for 25 years. Passionate about systemic and social justice, he successfully founded and implemented the Rehabilitation Alternative Probation (RAP) Program, which focused on treatment-based accountability through recovery, in lieu of incarceration. As a longtime adjunct professor at DePaul and Loyola law schools, he mentored future attorneys.
A lifelong resident of River Forest, he attended St. Vincent Ferrer and Fenwick High Schools, and went on to attend John Carroll University, Loyola University Rome Center, and completed his Juris Doctor at Loyola University Chicago.
Spending childhood summers in northern Michigan and later in Green Lake, Wisconsin nurtured his appreciation for family time: no TV, but lots of Nana’s cookies.
Having officiated over 200 weddings either in marriage court or privately, he thoroughly enjoyed his nickname, “The Love Judge.”
One of his greatest joys was the relationships he nurtured with members of his youth baseball teams. He dedicated many years as an Oak Park/River Forest baseball and softball coach, having won several village championship titles, and an induction to the Oak Park Youth Baseball Hall of Fame.
A fan of travel, baseball, and live music, he visited 48 state capitals and every major league baseball stadium, with photos to prove it. In his later years, he could be found regularly attending his grandchildren’s sporting events or enjoying travel adventures with his wife, Ramona.
He had a generosity of spirit that touched many lives and left an impact.
Larry was the husband of Ramona (nee Lacey); the father of Laura (Tim) Wagner, Katherine Fox and the late Elizabeth Lacey (Steve [m. Manuela]) Dickson; proud papa of Shea, Quinn and Michael Wagner and Thomas, Maeve and Luke Dickson; and brother of Alice McMahon (Pete Mavrelis) and James Fox (Penny Hamilton); and the uncle of many nieces and nephews; and cousin to the Fox, McNally, and Cronin families. He was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. Paul and Mardie Fox, and his siblings, Elizabeth “Libby” Fox, Sheila (William) McLaughlin, and Paul (late Sue) Fox.
Visitation will be held at Conboy-Westchester Funeral Home, 10501 W. Cermak Road, Westchester, on Thursday, April 16 from 3 to 8 p.m. All will meet Friday, April 17, at St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church, 1530 Jackson Ave., River Forest, for a 10 a.m. funeral Mass. Interment private at All Saints Cemetery.
Memorials to the Way Back Inn, 104 Oak St., Maywood, IL 60153, are deeply appreciated.
Arrangements were handled by Peter B. Kennedy & Co. Funeral Directors.