How lucky are we, to have met a man of such thorough, unerring empathy? There is no price, as could ever match the joy of being fed by John, of feeling his safe embrace, of hearing him crack up at his own joke. He couldn’t bear to let another's heart be troubled, to see them hungry, cold, or pained. John had no patience for cruelty toward others, yet there is not a soul he couldn’t forgive. He built houses indiscriminately, and made them homes of warmth, of music, of good food, and of colour. His arms stretched canvas, mixed paints, cut wood, hammered nails, stoked fires, baked bread, and made coffee every single morning: not just for himself, but for others.

He is in the smell of turpentine and of mixed oil and pigments. He is in the flowers that bask in the afternoon sun, and the waves that gently brush over our red sands. He is in my bones, my blood, my heart, and my soul. He painted through an entirely unique, wondrous, and unrepentantly beautiful eye. His hands brushed every flower, every sandy rock, every blue wave, red dune, and ray of yellow sun that greeted this little island.

John brought so much colour to this world; his work decorates thousands of homes and businesses on Epekwitk and beyond this little paradise. When you see his windswept brushstrokes, his umber, fuchsia, and turquoise flowers, and you read his name, sit a moment and enjoy. He wanted you to.

There is a lighthouse, a blue sky, red dunes, a web of flowers, and a warm ray of sunshine for each of us, because of John Frederick Cox.

John passed peacefully in the arms of his family on Friday, the 22nd of August, 2025.

There will be no public service for John. His most recent works will remain in the possession of his family.

In lieu of flowers, donations, or gifts, please send a donation to the Sameer Project Initiatives: A Palestinian organization working to deliver aid to displaced families in Gaza. https://chuffed.org/project/113327-refaat-alareer-camp-the-sameer-project

Written by his daughter Jane Cox and his wife Danielle White.