Captain Donald Hoyt Cox, Jr., of Londonderry, NH, passed away on January 24th, 2024, after battling pancreatic cancer. He is survived by his wife, Harriet Read Cox; daughter, Rachel R.W.W. Cox, of Brookline, MA; stepson, Erik K. Robb, of Northwood, NH; sister, Betsey S. Cox-Buteau, of Hollis, NH; and brothers, Stephen W. Cox, of Windham, NH, and Andrew W. Cox, of Englewood, FL.
Don grew up in Topsfield, MA, and graduated from Masconomet Regional High School as part of the class of '69. His aviation journey began at 14 when he started flight training with the Junior Civil Air Patrol at Beverly Airport. He earned his solo pilot's license at 16, setting the stage for his future as an airline pilot.
Following his graduation from Northeastern University in Boston, MA, with a B.S. in Aviation and an A.A. in Meteorology, Don went on to teach flying at Hanscom Air Force Base in Bedford, MA. There, he gained renown for his exceptional instruction; every student he mentored successfully passed their licensing exam on the first attempt.
In the following years, he met and married the love of his life, Harriet Read, and together they relocated to upstate NY where he began flying for Empire Airlines. Amidst the industry's consolidations, he transitioned through various airlines, including Piedmont, US Airways, and American Airlines. Notable career highlights include flying as Captain on the Boeing 757 and 767 on the Boston to Frankfurt, Germany route, and retiring on the Airbus A320.
Don took pride in his membership with the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) and strongly believed in the vital role of unions in enhancing working conditions and safety. During his tenure at Empire Airlines, he became a union representative and actively participated in the merger negotiations with Piedmont Airlines on behalf of his fellow Empire pilots.
In retirement, Don maintained friendships with his retired airline buddies and enjoyed meeting up with them for breakfast every few weeks to connect on flying and personal matters. Additionally, he was a member of the Quiet Birdmen and valued the camaraderie and friendships he made through his Hangar.
In addition to flying “the big planes”, he enjoyed building and flying model airplanes and was a member and past president of the Flying Tigers Model Airplane Club of Londonderry, NH. He enjoyed spending many weekends at the club, frequently observing fellow members demolishing months of meticulous model building efforts in mere seconds.
In addition to his passion for aviation, Don found joy in music, having played guitar and trombone during his youth and maintaining a lifelong love for classic rock and oldies. Alongside Harriet, he explored numerous common interests, including their shared love for travel, which led them to visit various national parks, several European countries, and Egypt together. They both cherished nature and animals, and shared many beloved pets together.
Don has flown west, leaving behind cherished memories and a void that will be deeply felt by all who knew him.
No flowers please. If you would like to do something to honor his memory, please consider a donation to the charity of your choice.