Wayne Cox Obituary, Death- Wayne R. Cox Jr., also known as “Guy” to family and “Wally” to friends, passed away peacefully on April 6 at the age of 75.
Wayne was born on September 28, 1947, to parents Margaret Mary (MacKenzie) Cox and Wayne Robert Cox in Long Beach, California. In his early years, he resided in Davenport, Iowa, and San Mateo, California. After the family relocated to Claremont, he attended Our Lady of the Assumption School and Pomona Catholic Boys’ School (now Damien High), where he excelled in all sports and served as class president among other leadership positions. He graduated from the University of Southern California in 1976 with a bachelor’s degree and a postgraduate doctor of dental surgery degree, both with high honors.
In the city he loved, Claremont, he started his Village dentistry office and worked there for 35 years. As he strolled from his house to work or the town and dined frequently with his daughters, friends, and family, he was frequently observed saying hello to and conversing with people he passed on the streets. He used his love of athletics to organize and raise money for team games, coach Claremont Colleges rugby teams for 16 years, and win multiple championships.
His overseas visits to Europe, South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia, where his players enjoyed the physical and cultural outings, were his proudest accomplishments. When “Coach Wally” was recently honored by being inducted into the Claremont Colleges Rugby Hall of Fame, he was brought to tears. His three girls brought him the most happiness in life. He took part in all of their activities and enjoyed their successes. He loved hosting get-togethers for friends and family in the comfort of his house. “Gardening, cooking, and creating beauty through his artistic talent of stained-glass creations and painting was his quiet yet greatly admired work,” his family continued.
His sisters Kathleen Manchuk and Marianne (Jim) Irwin, brother Monsignor Gregory A. Cox, and daughters Hannah, Michelle, and Lucy survive him. He was previously married to Molly. Friday, May 19 at 10:30 a.m., Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church, 435 N. Berkeley Ave., Claremont 91711, will host a funeral Mass. At Walter’s Restaurant, 310 N. Yale Ave., Claremont 91711, there will be a celebration that follows.
