March 4, 1932 to January 31, 2017
John Cox, 84, passed away peacefully on January 31, 2017 at the Atria Roseland after a long struggle with Pick’s Disease. Formerly residing in Livingston and West Orange, NJ, he was a current resident of Roseland, NJ.
The son and only child of John and Natalie (Palmer) Cox, John grew up in Boston, where he would sneak into Fenway Park and became a life-long and devoted Red Sox fan. The family then moved to upstate New York and they lived many years in Newburgh. John attended Purdue University but joined the Marine Corps serving in the Korean War. After his military service, John graduated from New York University and attended NYU’s Graduate School of Business Administration.
Mr. Cox was highly regarded in the insurance industry. Because of his leadership in this field, NYU named the Chair of the Insurance School in his honor. He joined the American International Group of insurance companies in 1959. Mr. Cox had a long and very successful career holding executive positions in AIG, INA, CIGNA, American Can and in 1985 he became the founding Chairman, President and CEO of ACE, Ltd Insurance. John wrote the first policy for the international insurance conglomerate in 1985, retiring from the company in 1991.
In his private life, John enjoyed playing golf, and was fortunate to play many great golf courses around the world. He loved investing in the market and other ventures, was a wonderful mentor and teacher to many throughout his career in business, and was an avid reader who loved his many dogs and cats over the years. He also had a passion for genealogy and he successfully traced his family tree to the early 1700’s.
He was an altar boy, a member of the Knights of Columbus, and held a strong Catholic faith throughout his life.
His generosity was felt by his family, friends and everyone who knew him. He had a wonderful sense of humor, a strong moral compass and a passion for life-long learning. John enjoyed sharing his knowledge, stories and personal history with family and friends.
John is survived by his loving wife, Patricia M. (VanLoan) Cox, also of the Atria Roseland, as well as his six adult children, Catherine deGorter, Patricia Anderson and husband Colin Anderson, John Cox, Ellen Funesti and Susan Cox. John enjoyed his 22 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. He will be greatly missed and remembered by his family and friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you perform a random act of kindness or give to a charity of your choice.
The Funeral Mass was held on Saturday,
