Major William Bain Oxnard Jr., better known as Coach Ox, died peacefully on Saturday, December 30 surrounded by his family. He was born on June 9, 1937 in Marblehead, Massachusetts, the son of William Bain Oxnard Sr, and Mary Catherine Brady.
After earning the Eagle Scout rank, Bill graduated from Marblehead High school in 1955, following graduation he went to Cushing Academy before enlisting in the military. In 1958 he enlisted in the Army and served his first tour of duty in Korea after completing basic training. Upon his return, he was recommended for Office Candidate school in Fort Benning Georgia. He then went to Army Intelligence School at Fort Holabird Maryland, where he met his future wife, Patricia Ann Restivo.
Upon graduation from AIS, Bill and Patricia were married and immediately moved to Augsburg, Germany where he acted as a Reconnaissance officer on the Czech border for over 2 years. After a short time in the states, he was deployed to Vietnam where he earned a Bronze Star. Following Vietnam, Bill worked at the Pentagon for over 5 years, followed by his final tour of duty in Korea in 1976.
He returned to be an instructor in Army Intelligence School at Fort Holabird, where he specialized in imagery interpretation, after which he was honorably discharged from the military as a Major. While in the Military he received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Following his Military career, Bill worked as the Contract Facilities Manager at Towson State University for 20 years.
Outside of the love for his family, his true passion was football. From his earliest days, Bill played every sport he could, from baseball, to basketball to football—whether in high school or with the Military while overseas. Starting in the 70’s Bill began his coaching career with the Optimist club rec-council program coaching the 10-12 Hawks, followed by 20 years at Calvert Hall College. He then moved to Arch Bishop Curley, working with Head Coach Sean Murphy, where he was Assistant Head Coach, and running backs coach. He was fortunate to be part of five championship seasons, when Curley won the MIAA “B” Conference Title in 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, and most recently in 2014.
During these 40+ years of coaching, Bill mentored and influenced countless young men and generations of families, sometimes coaching the children of former players. Coaching Football was his true love and he recently retired from coaching at the age of 79.
Survived by his wife of 54 years, Patricia Ann Oxnard, and their three children, son William and wife, Deborah Oxnard, daughter Elizabeth (Oxnard) and Patrick Provost, and granddaughters Abigail Concetta (22) and Emma Kathleen Provost (20) and daughter Mary (Oxnard) and Robert Kirk, and grandchildren Sydney Ann (14), and Ian Andrew Kirk (12).
Visitation will be held at Johnson-Fosbrink Funeral Home, P.A. 8521 Loch Raven Blvd. (beltway exit 29B) on Friday January 5th from 2-4pm and 6-9pm. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, January 6th at The Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary church, 8501 Loch Raven Blvd at 1 pm. Mass will be celebrated by Friar Matt Foley of Arch Bishop Curley.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent in Bill’s memory to Next One Up, www.nextoneup.org a charity whose mission aligns with Bill’s philosophy of serving. Their mission is to help support and advance academic, athletic and social development of young men in need. "When you get to the top of the mountain, pull the next one up." With your support, we can help continue the legacy that Bill started.
Bill will be laid to rest at the Star of the Sea Cemetery in Marblehead Massachusetts, on Tuesday, January 9th, where he was born and raised. He loved that “dear ole’ town…”