Obituary for Charles "Chuck" Cox
Funeral Mass for Charles “Chuck” Cox, 82, of Aurora, will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 29, 2023, at Immaculate Conception Church, 37940 Euclid Ave., Willoughby.
He passed away peacefully in his sleep March 24, 2023.
Chuck graduated from Cathedral Latin High School & Case Institute of Technology and enjoyed a 38-year career at General Electric’s Nela Park before retiring in 2000. Chuck’s legacy at General Electric included a series of awards for his design and engineering excellence along with five patents documenting his research and innovative work for the automotive lighting industry.
Chuck married the love of his life Mary Alice (nee Milone) Cox in 1962 at St. Paul’s Parish in Euclid. In 1965, he and Mary relocated from Cleveland’s Collinwood neighborhood and settled in Willoughby, where they spent the next 56 years raising their four sons. Chuck was devoted to his family and community. He was an active member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Parish serving as an usher and working their annual Octoberfest fundraiser. He also coached Willoughby youth baseball teams and ran the parish intramural basketball program for many years.
Chuck was an avid baseball fan and excelled as a left-handed pitcher in the Cleveland sandlot leagues. He and Mary spent many retirement winters visiting Indians Spring training in Scottsdale, Ariz.
His legacy continued as a dedicated public servant beginning with his service on Willoughby’s Zoning Board in 1983 and then as City Councilman from 1986 to 2006. For 20 of his 22 years as a Councilman, he served as President working in coordination with the City’s administration to build a new Municipal Courthouse, construct the Osborn Park Pool, renovate the City’s second pool, rebuild and improve the City’s two Fire Stations, and construction of an erosion control break-wall along Willoughby’s lakefront. Under his tenure, private development thrived including the re-birth of historic downtown Willoughby and redevelopment of the Willo Plaza (now Lowe’s) and Giant Tiger (now Willoughby Commons) properties. He was fair and respectful to all who had business with the City and his honesty, integrity, ethics, passion and professionalism were complementary to his drive to make Willoughby a better place for all who live and worked there without disruption to City services or finances.
Chuck spent his free time with family and watching the many activities of his sons and grandchildren. He enjoyed working in his yard, playing golf with friends and colleagues and was an active member of the Willoughby Rotary Club. Chuck was a founding member of the Cuy-Lake Golf League and for over 58 years enjoyed the opportunity to hold every office in the league. He served each position with dignity and class with his welcoming presence and friendship.
Chuck is survived by his wife of 60 years, Mary; four sons, John (Karen), David (Linda), Jeffrey (Kim), and Joseph (Blanche Damon); seven grandchildren, Amanda Owens (Josh), Courtney (TJ), Kirstie, Peyton, Presley, Jonathan and Jason; and three great-grandchildren, Charles, Theodore and Beau.
Chuck was preceded in death by his parents, Howard and Delores; and brothers, Howard and Lawrence.
The family will receive friends from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 28, at McMahon-Coyne-Vitantonio Funeral Home, 38001 Euclid Ave., in Willoughby. Burial will follow the Mass at All Souls Cemetery in Chardon Township.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations in his honor to the Cathedral Latin Alumni Association, the Catholic Charities and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
To leave condolences for the family, visit www.MCVfuneralhomes.com.
He passed away peacefully in his sleep March 24, 2023.
Chuck graduated from Cathedral Latin High School & Case Institute of Technology and enjoyed a 38-year career at General Electric’s Nela Park before retiring in 2000. Chuck’s legacy at General Electric included a series of awards for his design and engineering excellence along with five patents documenting his research and innovative work for the automotive lighting industry.
Chuck married the love of his life Mary Alice (nee Milone) Cox in 1962 at St. Paul’s Parish in Euclid. In 1965, he and Mary relocated from Cleveland’s Collinwood neighborhood and settled in Willoughby, where they spent the next 56 years raising their four sons. Chuck was devoted to his family and community. He was an active member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Parish serving as an usher and working their annual Octoberfest fundraiser. He also coached Willoughby youth baseball teams and ran the parish intramural basketball program for many years.
Chuck was an avid baseball fan and excelled as a left-handed pitcher in the Cleveland sandlot leagues. He and Mary spent many retirement winters visiting Indians Spring training in Scottsdale, Ariz.
His legacy continued as a dedicated public servant beginning with his service on Willoughby’s Zoning Board in 1983 and then as City Councilman from 1986 to 2006. For 20 of his 22 years as a Councilman, he served as President working in coordination with the City’s administration to build a new Municipal Courthouse, construct the Osborn Park Pool, renovate the City’s second pool, rebuild and improve the City’s two Fire Stations, and construction of an erosion control break-wall along Willoughby’s lakefront. Under his tenure, private development thrived including the re-birth of historic downtown Willoughby and redevelopment of the Willo Plaza (now Lowe’s) and Giant Tiger (now Willoughby Commons) properties. He was fair and respectful to all who had business with the City and his honesty, integrity, ethics, passion and professionalism were complementary to his drive to make Willoughby a better place for all who live and worked there without disruption to City services or finances.
Chuck spent his free time with family and watching the many activities of his sons and grandchildren. He enjoyed working in his yard, playing golf with friends and colleagues and was an active member of the Willoughby Rotary Club. Chuck was a founding member of the Cuy-Lake Golf League and for over 58 years enjoyed the opportunity to hold every office in the league. He served each position with dignity and class with his welcoming presence and friendship.
Chuck is survived by his wife of 60 years, Mary; four sons, John (Karen), David (Linda), Jeffrey (Kim), and Joseph (Blanche Damon); seven grandchildren, Amanda Owens (Josh), Courtney (TJ), Kirstie, Peyton, Presley, Jonathan and Jason; and three great-grandchildren, Charles, Theodore and Beau.
Chuck was preceded in death by his parents, Howard and Delores; and brothers, Howard and Lawrence.
The family will receive friends from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 28, at McMahon-Coyne-Vitantonio Funeral Home, 38001 Euclid Ave., in Willoughby. Burial will follow the Mass at All Souls Cemetery in Chardon Township.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations in his honor to the Cathedral Latin Alumni Association, the Catholic Charities and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
To leave condolences for the family, visit www.MCVfuneralhomes.com.