Donations may be made in memory of Msgr. Cox to a scholarship fund established in his honor at St. Peter’s Tri-Parish School.
Donations may be made in memory of our dear past pastor, Msgr. Cox, to St. Peter’s Tri-Parish School, 350 Fair Street, Warwick, RI 02888.
The Reverend Monsignor John F. Cox, 97, a past Pastor & Pastor Emeritus of St. Peter Church died on Sun., March 8th after a brief illness. He will be cherished and missed by all!
Msgr. Cox came to St. Peter’s in 1969 as the pastor. He retired 17 years later in August 1986 with the title Pastor Emeritus. During his pastorate, he also served as the Dean of the Warwick Deanery from 1970 through 1974, Vicar General of the Diocese of Providence in 1971, and as a member of the Senate of Priests.
Although Msgr. Cox devoted his life to his priestly vocation, he pursued a lifelong avocation to sports, both participating and spectating. His earliest interest in baseball came from his catching in sandlot ball at Providence’s Davis Park and his dedication to the Boston Red Sox was rewarded early as he followed the 1918 World Series championship by listening on the crystal radio. Msgr. Cox occasionally mentioned that the only career he would have liked if he had not been a priest was a professional baseball player – as a catcher. His dedication to the Providence College Friars was well known to his fellow fans, as he seldom missed a game through his mid-80s. Msgr. Cox remained an avid swimmer and golfer through most of his life, crediting exercise as a key to longevity. Msgr. Cox was the oldest living Catholic priest in the Diocese of Providence. Rest in peace, Msgr. Cox, thank you for all you did for St. Peter’s!
