Write a commentDonald David Cox, Ph.D., of Oswego, beloved husband, father, and grandfather passed away on Saturday November 18th, 2023, after a brief illness.
He was the youngest of 13 children to Lettie Lee (Roles) and David Issac Cox of Pineville, WV. He was 97 years old and the last surviving child of the Coxs’.
Donald, known as Don to most, followed his older brother Landon B. Cox (deceased) of Cortland, NY, into the Navy in 1943 and served until 1946. He took advantage of the GI bill using it to attend Marshall University where he graduated with his B.A. in 1949, and his M.A. in 1950. He furthered his education at Ohio State University in 1951 and Michigan State University in 1952. He graduated with his Ph.D. from Syracuse University in 1958.
Don worked as a teacher in the West Virginia public schools from 1949 - 1950, and then as a professor of Biology at his alma mater Marshall University from 1950 – 1962. He joined the State University of New York (SUNY) at Oswego in 1963 where he worked until his retirement in 1991. While Don was a botanist and teacher by trade, he took on many roles while at SUNY Oswego including chairman of the biology department from 1972 to 1975 and director of the Rice Creek Field Station from 1981 to 1991.
Don was an avid reader and enjoyed books about far off places and long-ago lands as much as stories about hungry NYC cops. He was known to read a book or two a month. Don loved a good story but wrote about his beloved plants. He was an accomplished author with four published books to his name. Don loved the outdoors and enjoyed walking in the woods sharing his vast knowledge of the plants encountered along the way with his traveling companions whether it be friends, students, or grandchildren.
While Don was a huge fan of plants, he lived for his family. He married his wife of 60 years Barbara Alice Cox (Barr) (deceased) in December of 1962. They raised his daughter from a previous marriage Deborah D. Davis (deceased) of Syracuse, NY, and two daughters Cynthia (Anthony Richmond) M. Mangione of Rensselaer, NY, and Lisa (Scott Mott) C. Lattime of Oswego, NY. He was the proud grandfather to his five grandchildren, Allison (Michael Cortese) Lattime of Rochester, NY, David Lattime of Rochester, NY, Jack Lattime of Fairbanks, AK, Olivia Mangione of Rensselaer, NY, and Landon Mangione of Rensselaer, NY. He always enjoyed his large family including his nieces and nephews and being the youngest of 13 he had many. He started a Cox family newsletter to keep everyone up to date on all the family news and always looked forward to bringing his family back to his West Virginian home to attend the annual family reunion.
Don had many opinions that he was always willing to share. He once told Barbara that she wasn’t making the dinner rolls the way his mother did, and she promptly gave him the job. He turned out to be a pretty good baker and from that point on he was put in charge of making rolls for all the family gatherings. He won the approval and compliments from everyone who had the pleasure of tasting his rolls, including his mother-in-law.
From his humble beginning of growing up in a farmhouse with a dirt floor in the hollers of West Virginia to receiving his Ph.D. with honors from the prestigious Syracuse University, Don’s life was truly amazing. He received many awards and acclimations including being inducted into the Pineville High School hall of fame. From his legendary family camping trip from New York to California and back, to his many travels with his wife in his rolling home in retirement, he cherished his family and spending time with them. He will be deeply missed.
Calling hours will be held from 4:00 to 6:00 Tuesday, November 28, 2023 at the Dain-Cullinan Funeral Home, 112 East Second Street in Oswego.
A memorial service will be held in the spring at the Sterling Nature Center.
Spring burial will be in Rural Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Friends of the Sterling Nature Center, The Sterling Nature Center
15730 Jensvold road, Sterling, NY,13156
Phone (315) 947-6143
