RICHARD COX Obituary

RICHARD DICK HORTON COX Richard Horton Cox ('Dick') was born in Pa'ia, Maui on October 10, 1920, to Joel and Helen Cox. He died peacefully at his home in Manoa on August 2, 2024. His grandparents, Joel and Hannah Bean, had come from West Branch, Iowa as Travelling Friends to Hawai'i from 1861 to 1862. When his father took a job on Kaua'i, Dick and his brothers, Doak and Charles moved from Maui to 'Ele'ele, Kaua'i. Dick attended public schools on Kaua'i, Hanahau'oli and graduated in 1938 from Punahou. Dick attended the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) where he earned his Bachelor's degree in 1942 and a Master's degree in 1946. It was in Pasadena where he met his future wife, Hester Virginia Smith. They married in December of 1942. During WWII, he worked at the joint venture between Caltech and the Navy at Goldstone testing rockets. Dick returned to Hawai'i with Hester and their first daughter in 1946, where he joined McBryde Sugar Company as a civil engineer. In 1956, he transferred to Alexander and Baldwin's Land Department and, after 44 years, retired as Vice President of Engineering. The development of Wailea on Maui was one of the highlights of his career. Dick's professional associations included the American Society of Civil Engineers, National Association of Professional Engineers, Engineers and Architects of Hawai'i, American Right of Way Association. As a member of the American Water Works, he earned the National Fuller Award in 1996. He was also a board member for The Board of the Water Supply, a charter member of the Commission on Water Resource Management and past President of the Conservation Council of Hawai'i. Dick cared deeply for both education and the arts. During his long life, he contributed to Hanahau'oli School, the East-West Center, Caltech, Tusculum College (founded by an ancestor), the Honolulu Museum of Art, and research at the Bishop Museum. For his long-standing support of Punahou School, he received the "'O' in Life" in 2015. He attended and celebrated the college graduations of all six of his grandchildren from California to Massachusetts. Dick, along with Doak and Charles, established the Award for Excellence in the Visual Arts at the Honolulu Museum of Art in honor of their grandmother, Catharine Cox, an early director of the museum. Dick was predeceased by his wife Hester and son Samuel, and brothers Doak and Charles. He is survived by his children Millicent Cox (Norborne Clarke), Janet Brown (Tom), Lydia Chock (John), Evelyn Cox (Frank Stanton), and David Cox (Patricia); grandchildren Pia Chock, Richard Cox (Rebecca Hartman), John Chock, Charles Cox, David Cox, and Emily Cox; and two great granddaughters, Frankie and Catie Chock. The family is grateful for the comfort and aid provided by St. Francis Hospice and Dick's caregivers. Services will be held at the Religious Society of Friends, 2426 O'ahu Ave on November 15th at 4 PM. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in memory of Richard Cox to the Bishop Museum, Honolulu Museum of Art, or Punahou School.