Leadership

MEA-Retired Vice President Bridget Fox

Bridget Fox begins her role as MEA Retired Vice President in deep appreciation of the members before her who built this union into the organization it is today. Just as being building rep or chief negotiator back in active union days, she believes it is a privilege and an honor to serve.

Though not raised on the west side, Bridget moved to Lake Michigan’s shoreline almost 50 years ago as a brand-new teacher hired by Muskegon Public Schools. She worked first as a teacher/teacher consultant for deaf and hard of hearing students, and later as a high school counselor for a combined 40+ years of service to the district.

Bridget often reflects with gratitude for the opportunities her career provided. “I have worked with Jon Bon Jovi; flown with the Blue Angels; performed in the American Sign Language production group, Silent Harmony; traveled from coast to coast to coast to Canada; presented, been published, and even learned how to use a dead fish for printing when my students read “The Rainbow Fish.”

Bridget is married to her awesome husband, Dale, and they recently celebrated their “sapphire” anniversary. Since Dale was also a longtime union worker, they strived together to instill the goodness that comes from union activism and collective bargaining into their children. The values of standing together, negotiating, fighting the fair fight, and caring about big, virtuous issues allowed them to raise two baby girls into fiercely independent, socially conscious, intelligent women.

Bridget retired in 2015 and has since enjoyed more boating, swimming, kayaking, and solace up north. She weaves baskets, sings for enjoyment, and still attends lots of community meetings in her hometown of Grand Haven. She loves to revel with members in their triumphs, and listen to members’ concerns. Please, reach out to her and share your stories.