NORWAY — A local man whose work is being called the “epitome of volunteerism,” will be honored at the Norway ice skating rink he maintained for years.

Bruce W. Fox, 64, an Oxford Hills Technical School director, died unexpectedly on Oct. 30 at his home in Norway.

“We lost our ice man,” Recreation Director Deb Partridge tearfully told the Board of Selectmen on Thursday night.

In response and at the recommendation of Partridge and the Recreation Committee, selectmen did something they don’t often do. They voted to name a town facility after him. The Norway Recreation Department’s ice rink on Cottage Street will be named in honor of Fox.

The father of seven and grandfather of nine was passionate about stock car racing, golfing, career and technical education. And for the past 20 years, he made sure the town’s outdoor ice rink was in shape for the thousands of children and adults who skated on it.

“He was an incredible volunteer, outstandingly dedicated,” Partridge said. “He’d always have the ice ready. We saw so many people benefit from what he enjoyed so much.”

Fox maintained the ice each winter since 1994, using his makeshift “Zamboni” that included a garden hose and rake-like device for ice resurfacing. He ensured a smooth and safe ice surface for skaters of all ages, Partridge said.

Fox told the Sun Journal in 2007 his work to resurface the ice was always dependent on the weather.

“We’re at the mercy of God with this thing,” Fox had said.

Each year he got the Fire Department to bring a hose down to the rink and he would hitch it up to a nearby hydrant to flood the rink at night.

He had his “Zamboni” driver’s duties down to a science, Partridge said.

“Bruce worked through trial and error to find a formula to patch holes and large cracks in the ice as they formed. He even cleared the rink of snow after every storm,” Partridge said.

It wasn’t unusual to see Fox, often accompanied by his wife, Nancy, at the rink in the early hours of the morning. Early risers would see Fox at the rink about 2 a.m. getting the ice ready before he left for his job at Maine Machine Products Co., in Paris, where he was employed for over 40 years.

“Chuck Truman and Bill Hanger also joined in on the fun the last few years to help Bruce keep the surface usable for the public,” Partridge said.

The rink, which is usable from dawn until 10 p.m. for public skating, after-school ice skating programs and public skating parties. In 2013, a warming hut was constructed with funds from New Balance shoe company.

In addition to the ice, Fox was active in other volunteer positions, including the Oxford Hills Technical School board of directors.

“He was a huge supporter of career and technical education,” Director Shawn Lambert said.

In fact, the day he died, Fox was set to meet with pre-engineering students at the school to help them make a part for a piece of machinery.

The students at the school have told Partridge they would like to build benches for the ice rink in memory of Fox.

“He is greatly missed,” Lambert said. “Every time I talked to someone about Bruce, I find further and further connections in the community, and it reminds me of how many lives he actually did touch. His passing was a shock to all of us.”

“Bruce was the epitome of volunteerism,” Partridge said.

She said the ice rink will be dedicated in Fox’s name this winter.

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