William F. (Bill) Cox
CATSKILL, NY. – William F. Cox (Bill) died August 25th at his home in Catskill NY as a result of a recently discovered very advanced cancer. He died in hospice at his Catskill home with his partner of 48 years (now spouse) Arthur Levin and his beloved dog, Lego, by his side. Bill was 72 years old.
Born in Detroit, Michigan, Bill and his family moved to Marquette in 1955 and attended junior high and high school at J. D. Pierce, graduating with the class of 1960. He moved to New York to pursue a career in art.
He earned a BFA from the School of Visual Arts and was a graphic artist primarily working in silk-screen media. His work was shown at the Flats Fixed Gallery in SOHO.
Bill met Arthur Levin in 1967 and spent the next 48 years living together in the 1844 townhouse they owned at 20 West 11th Street in Greenwich Village in New York, NY. They also owned a home in Chatham Center, N.Y. from 1970 until 1978.
In the 1990’s Bill became an addiction counselor-social worker at two New York agencies; Project Renewal on East Third and Bowery and then for programs affiliated with the Children’s Aid Society. Bill was fearless and dedicated, counseling serious felony offenders with the same caring concern as he gave those with no criminal record.
Because of health issues, Bill retired in 2003 and purchased property in Catskill, New York in 2004. He planned to resume his work as an artist there and he was enthusiastic about his new home which featured an artist’s studio rebuilt from the remains of an old barn. However, Bill’s chronic back problem and eventually disabling spinal stenosis frustrated his ability to concentrate on his work.
Bill is remembered for his keen sense of humor, his charming personality and his love of theatre and classic movies. Throughout his life he remained connected to his high school class of 1960, by keeping in touch frequently and returning for class reunions. He loved traveling and spending time at their home on Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands.
Bill is survived by his spouse Arthur A. Levin, a sister, his niece Angie and nephews Erick and Joe, Cousins Sue Gauthier and Fred Matson along with several cousins in Alger County. He was predeceased by his parents Harris and Lois Cox and a brother Lee.
At Bills request his ashes will be buried in a small family plot which he had restored, on what was formerly the Cox farm, on Brookton Rd in Marquette.