In Loving Memory: Richard Francis Cox (1928-2024)
With heavy hearts, we bid farewell to dear Richard Cox (of Boston), a beautifully powerful soul whose journey through life was marked by hardship, yet defined by gratitude, generosity, and intelligence. Richard passed away at the age of 95, leaving behind a legacy of resilience and compassion that will be cherished by all who had the privilege of knowing him. Born into the world as an orphan in Wakefield, MA in 1928, Richard faced adversity from the very beginning. Despite the challenges he encountered, he never allowed his circumstances to define him.
Through sheer determination and unwavering resilience, Richard was welcomed into an adoptive family who provided him with the stability and support for a portion of his life before living independently. Throughout his life, Richard battled tuberculosis numerous times at a time when the affected would spend long periods in far off sanatoriums, a testament to his indomitable spirit and unwavering perseverance in the face of adversity. Despite the physical toll of the illnesses, Richard‘s intellect remained sharp even working with a lab affiliated with MIT. Richard was a lifelong learner, always intellectually curious and studying, acquiring new skills and deepening the ones he had. As a voracious reader he often read scholarly works as St. Thomas Aquinas. He loved politics and was always up to date and forward thinking about the US and foreign affairs.
Richard’s generosity knew no bound, he regularly donated his time and what little he had to charities and others in need. Despite experiencing periods of hardship, he never lost sight of his innate ability to give back to others, offering whatever support and assistance he could to those in need when he was often the one in need himself. His grateful heart and boundless kindness touched the lives of all who crossed his path. His wisdom and intelligence were matched only by his humility and compassion, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts of those fortunate enough to call him a friend. He stayed true to his faith, undaunted by the challenges in his life that he accepted with utter grace. For all this he was given the title, “Richard the Great” by his final adoptive family in his elder years, a family of whom he was the honorary Patriarch. His beautiful soul was truly blessed as he amassed a number of Guardian Angels along his life path, earlier in his life his beloved friend Bruce and her friends of the Boston University Language Center and later the Di Carlo family who cared and accepted him as one of their own.
In his final days, surrounded by the love of his cherished family and friends near and far, Richard reflected on a life well-lived—a life defined not by the hardships he endured, but by the love he shared and the lives he touched along the way. Though Richard may no longer walk among us, his spirit will forever live on in the hearts of those who knew him. May his legacy of resilience, faith, gratitude, and kindness serve as a beacon of hope and inspiration for generations to come. Rest in peace, dearest Richard, we know you went straight to Heaven. You will be deeply missed, but your memory and lessons will live on in our hearts forever.
Private funeral masses held at The Church of the Advent and private burial at Holy Cross Cemetery Malden, MA. Public Memorial Mass held April 12, 2024 at Our Lady Star of the Sea.
In lieu of flowers we invite you to donate in his name to one of his dear charities:
Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly:
https://givebutter.com/Po3pNE
Donate Here
St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital:
https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html?sc_icid=header-btn-donate-now
Donate Here
St. Francis House:
https://stfrancishouse.org/
Donate Here