Funeral service was held yesterday in his native Stockholm, NJ for Irish American community stalwart and legal luminary William Cox.
Bill, who had been struggling with illness recently, passed away suddenly on 17 August.
A tireless supporter of the Irish Echo and transatlantic bridge-builder, it was once said of the 71-year-old attorney that he believed every plane he boarded should land in Ireland.
His devotion to Ireland and Irish America was reflected in his family's close ties to Ireland. He was a mainstay at Irish Echo events and among that select band of stalwarts who had attended the annual New York-New Belfast conference every year from its inception in 2010.
Indeed, Bill was a great advocate for Belfast, visiting numerous times with his beloved wife Kathy and making the Belfast International Homecoming a part of his annual calendar. In 2023, he received the coveted Belfast Ambassador Medal at the Homecoming gala in Belfast.
Bill was proud of his connections to the global capital of Irish music, Milltown Malbay, Co. Clare, where he had a second home and scores of relatives.
His daughter Eileen, the apple-of-his-eye, studied at both TCD and Queen's University Belfast while sons John and Michael were steeped in Irish American heritage. BOOSTER: Bill Cox, right, with fellow-2023 Belfast Ambassador Medal recipients, Brian Moran of NJ, Alan Foreman of B-Secur and Assemblywoman Amy Paulin of NY. Pesenting was Kerrie Sweeney of Maritime Belfast.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Bill was a lifelong learner with a deep passion for education and the law. He attended St. Francis College in Brooklyn, New York Law School, Pace University, where he earned his MBA, and New York University, where he earned his LLM.
William dedicated his professional life to the practice of law. He spent 20 years practicing in Manhattan with the law firm of Janvey, Gordon, Herland, Randolph and Cox before opening his own practice, Cox Law Firm, where he continued to practice until his passing. A specialist in patent law, Bill took great pride in his work and was highly regarded by his colleagues and clients — among whom were glam-rockers Kiss!
"At the Irish Echo and at Aisling Events, we were grateful for Bill's steady counsel and firm support," said Echo CEO Connla McCann. "He was a unrivalled booster for Belfast and we were blessed to have him on the team. Our condolences go to his wife Kathy, a constant presence at his side, and his family at this difficult time."
Bill is survived by wife Kathy, sons John (and his wife Courtney) and Michael, and daughter Eileen.
For further details of Bill's life and to sign a virtual book of condolences, visit the website of Ferguson Funeral Homes.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh sé.
