James Cox Obituary

Cox Jr., James F. 84, a veteran publishing executive, longtime resident of River Forest, passed away on November 12th, at Hines VA Hospital. He graduated from Oak Park-River Forest High School and received a journalism degree from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. He did advanced work in journalism at the American Press Institute at Columbia University and at the Stanford University College of Communications. Before launching his career, Mr. Cox entered the U.S. Navy in 1943, performing a range of assignments from hard hat salvage diver to admiral's aide. He participated in five amphibious invasion operations with the Pacific Fleet. Mr. Cox held executive posts with the Denver Post, Time Magazine and the Copley Press. During a nine- year period when he served as director of the University of Illinois Alumni Association, he donated a collection of historically significant mid-19th century newspapers to the university library. The most important is an 1865 edition of the Illinois State Journal announcing the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. He is survived by two sons, James (Anne) and Jeffrey (Leslie), a daughter, Elizabeth and five grandchildren. Visitation Wednesday, 3 to 9 p.m., at Drechsler, Brown & Williams Funeral Home, 203 S. Marion St., Oak Park. Funeral Thursday, 9:15 a.m., to St. Luke Church (Lathrop & Lake St.), River Forest for Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. Interment Queen of Heaven Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the American Cancer Society are appreciated. Funeral info: 708-383-3191 Sign-Guest Book at www.suntimes.com