Obituary of Ronald Alfred Cox

WATERLOO/SAVANNAH, Ga. – Ronald A. Cox, 95, of 1 Savannah Square Drive, formerly of Waterloo, died Thursday (August 18, 2106) in Savannah Square Skilled Nursing Home. Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday (August 25) at Coe-Genung Funeral Home in Waterloo. The funeral service will be at 10 a.m. on Friday (August 26) at Geneva Presbyterian Church, 24 Park Place, Geneva. Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery in Waterloo. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Gearan Center for the Performing Arts at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, 377 Pulteney St., Geneva, NY, 14456 or donate used working musical instruments to the Rochester City School District Music Department. Ron was born June 11, 1921, in Northhamptonshire, England, the son of Alfred and Alice Leech Cox. His family immigrated to the USA in 1923. Ron graduated from Madison High School in Rochester, N.Y. While attending high school, he was a member of the soccer team. Enjoying music, he was a member of the elite Rochester inter-high quartet with ultimately famous Bass-Baritone singer, William Warfield. Ron matriculated as Minister of Music Major at Wesleyan Conservatory, Macon, Ga., attending the conservatory from 1940 to 1942. Serving this country, he was drafted into the US Army, serving on the Island of Luzon, Philippines, with the Signal Corps. He attained the rank of sergeant. While in the Philippines, in 1943, he created the 86th Fighter Wing Dance Band. Ron received his US citizenship in Manila in 1945. Returning from the service, he attended Eastman School of Music, earning his Bachelor's Degree of Music in 1947. Years later, in 1962, he earned his Masters Degree in Music from Ithaca College. Ron was a very talented and gifted musician, having performed as a tenor soloist, played all brass instruments, was a choral and band conductor, composer and very dedicated teacher. He taught in Holly, Waterloo and Newark school districts. Ron retired after teaching at Hobart and William Smith Colleges from 1969 to 1986. He also taught private instruments and voice lessons from 1947 to 2008. In 1984, he founded the Women's Convention Day Chorale in Seneca Falls. He also founded the Red Jacket Chorale in 1985, conducted the orchestra for Seneca Community Players, for "Little Mary Sunshine", in 1979 and other musicals. Three of his sacred choral compositions were published just this year. Ron was a member of NYSSMA from 1948-2015, receiving in 2000, the Distinguished Service Award from NYSSMA. He was a member of Alpha NU chapter of Phi Mu Alpha, a music honorary fraternity. Ron was a member of the University of Rochester Alumni Association. During 1948, he served on Eastman School Alumni Council. He received in 1979, the Hobart Faculty Award for Community Service and received in 1979 and 1986, the Outstanding Teacher Award, from College Student Government at Hobart and William Smith Colleges. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Nancy Brown Cox; children Thomas (Kim) Cox, Margaret Chalker, Robert (Kathy) Cox, and Nancy (Shawn) Fogg; grandchildren Christopher (Melissa) Cox, Colleen (Scott) Moquin, Merrell (Loren) Fountaine, Colby (Melanie) Cox, Nora Cox, Robert Fogg, Sara Cox, Kelly Cox, Matt Saxby and Abby Saxby; great-grandchildren Baileigh and Brendon Moquin, Kendall and Owen Cox, Mekayla and Alyssa Fountaine, Kadyn and Kamryn Cox; sister, Dorothy (Richard) Janicke; sixteen nieces and nephews. Condolences for the family may be sent to www.coegenungfuneralhome.com.