Age 56
Somerville
John Edward Cox died peacefully on March 3 at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, surrounded by loved ones, following a brief illness. He was born in Somerville, NJ on March 31, 1960 to John James and Mary Elizabeth (Mundy) Cox, the youngest of three children. He was a 1978 graduate of Immaculata High School, where he was a member of the marching band and the Drama Club. He received a B.A. in Psychology and an M.A. in Teaching from The College of New Jersey. He was a member of Alpha Chi Rho, a national service fraternity, and was a past president of the Trenton State chapter.
Since 1999, John taught Social Studies at North Brunswick High School and Linwood Middle School, both in North Brunswick, NJ. He was NBTEA Vice President from 2009-2015. Prior to that, he taught at Nottingham High School in Hamilton, NJ. John’s colleagues and students described him as a bright and charismatic soul, kind-hearted and understanding, a mentor and friend whose influence inspired and guided studentstoward institutions of higher learning and fields of study. John also tended bar for many years, most recently at The Pines Manor in Edison, NJ and spent many summers doing lawn maintenance and painting houses.
Service to others was at the heart of John's vibrant life. He is remembered for his kindness, outstanding sense of humor, quick wit, and the ability to come up with a pun when least expected. He was generous with his time, and enthusiastically helped friends and family whenever they needed a hand. His hobbies included mountain biking, travel, and acting. He was an avid fan of Southside Johnny and Bruce Springsteen. He loved animals and found loving homes for rescued feral cats. He had a knack for making friends with nearly everyone he met, and he was always smiling. Those who knew him were blessed to be in his orbit and are richer for it.
John was predeceased by his father in 1977. In addition to his devoted mother, he is survived by his loving partner, Reiko Murofushi of Somerset, NJ; two sisters, Mary Ellen Devlin of Framingham, MA and Anita Cox of Pipersville, PA. He also leaves his niece and goddaughter, Colleen Frost, her husband Duncan, and their daughters Nora and John’s goddaughter Alice of Framingham, MA; his niece Maureen Devlin Hamalainen, her husband Dan, and their daughters Molly and Ella, of Ann Arbor, MI; and Reiko’s son, Richard Murofushi and her grandson, Shu-Hei, both of Japan. He is also survived by his uncle, Fred Mundy of Long Beach, CA; two aunts, Jeanne Naismyth of New Hope, PA and Carol Mundy of Las Cruces, NM; and a number of cousins. John also leaves a host of dear friends who were like family; and several beloved pets.
Funeral arrangements are by The Cusick Funeral Home, 80 Mountain Avenue, Somerville, NJ. Visitation will be Friday, March 10 from 4-8 PM. Funeral services will take place at the funeral home on Saturday, March 11 at 8:15 AM, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at The Church of the Immaculate Conception in Somerville at 9 AM. Interment will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery in East Millstone, NJ.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be mailed to the Mr. John Cox Memorial Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 57, Pipersville, PA 18947. Checks should be payable to North Brunswick High School with “Mr. John Cox Memorial Scholarship” noted on the memo line.
Somerville
John Edward Cox died peacefully on March 3 at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, surrounded by loved ones, following a brief illness. He was born in Somerville, NJ on March 31, 1960 to John James and Mary Elizabeth (Mundy) Cox, the youngest of three children. He was a 1978 graduate of Immaculata High School, where he was a member of the marching band and the Drama Club. He received a B.A. in Psychology and an M.A. in Teaching from The College of New Jersey. He was a member of Alpha Chi Rho, a national service fraternity, and was a past president of the Trenton State chapter.
Since 1999, John taught Social Studies at North Brunswick High School and Linwood Middle School, both in North Brunswick, NJ. He was NBTEA Vice President from 2009-2015. Prior to that, he taught at Nottingham High School in Hamilton, NJ. John’s colleagues and students described him as a bright and charismatic soul, kind-hearted and understanding, a mentor and friend whose influence inspired and guided studentstoward institutions of higher learning and fields of study. John also tended bar for many years, most recently at The Pines Manor in Edison, NJ and spent many summers doing lawn maintenance and painting houses.
Service to others was at the heart of John's vibrant life. He is remembered for his kindness, outstanding sense of humor, quick wit, and the ability to come up with a pun when least expected. He was generous with his time, and enthusiastically helped friends and family whenever they needed a hand. His hobbies included mountain biking, travel, and acting. He was an avid fan of Southside Johnny and Bruce Springsteen. He loved animals and found loving homes for rescued feral cats. He had a knack for making friends with nearly everyone he met, and he was always smiling. Those who knew him were blessed to be in his orbit and are richer for it.
John was predeceased by his father in 1977. In addition to his devoted mother, he is survived by his loving partner, Reiko Murofushi of Somerset, NJ; two sisters, Mary Ellen Devlin of Framingham, MA and Anita Cox of Pipersville, PA. He also leaves his niece and goddaughter, Colleen Frost, her husband Duncan, and their daughters Nora and John’s goddaughter Alice of Framingham, MA; his niece Maureen Devlin Hamalainen, her husband Dan, and their daughters Molly and Ella, of Ann Arbor, MI; and Reiko’s son, Richard Murofushi and her grandson, Shu-Hei, both of Japan. He is also survived by his uncle, Fred Mundy of Long Beach, CA; two aunts, Jeanne Naismyth of New Hope, PA and Carol Mundy of Las Cruces, NM; and a number of cousins. John also leaves a host of dear friends who were like family; and several beloved pets.
Funeral arrangements are by The Cusick Funeral Home, 80 Mountain Avenue, Somerville, NJ. Visitation will be Friday, March 10 from 4-8 PM. Funeral services will take place at the funeral home on Saturday, March 11 at 8:15 AM, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at The Church of the Immaculate Conception in Somerville at 9 AM. Interment will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery in East Millstone, NJ.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be mailed to the Mr. John Cox Memorial Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 57, Pipersville, PA 18947. Checks should be payable to North Brunswick High School with “Mr. John Cox Memorial Scholarship” noted on the memo line.