James graduated with honors from Brown University in 1965, and the University of Virginia School of Medicine in 1969, completing his internship and residency at UVA University Hospital in 1972. He went on to join SSMC where he was instrumental in growing the Pediatric Department from a group of two to twelve pediatricians. He served for many years as the Pediatric Department Chairman and also as President and Chairman of the Board of SSMC. In the 1970’s, he was the first Medical Director of the Special Care Nursery and Family Centered Care Committee at SSH, and later served as Chairman of the SSH Pediatric Department.
Dr. Cox was a Clinical Instructor in Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and an Assistant in Medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital, and he received the Community Pediatrician of the Year award by Boston Children’s Hospital in 2002.
Jim was forever grateful for meeting and marrying Phyllis Ciciarelli, Brown University ‘65 graduate, his remarkably talented and patient wife of 53 years, “the most important and best decision I ever made.” He cherished his role as father to his three children, Kimberleigh, Christopher, and Philip, and the countless memories made through growing, learning, coaching, and loving. He adored and was equally beloved as “Bah” by his 7 grandchildren Owen, Ella, Devin, Nora, Cooper, Scarlett, and Jordan, his own children and their spouses, Jason, Teri, and Kim.
He enjoyed traveling with his best friend Phyllis, as far away as Tanzania, Hawaii, Bermuda, and Turks and Caicos, with his daughter to Yosemite and wine country, and with his sons for the golf trip of a lifetime to Scotland and Northern Ireland. He also loved golf, fishing, a good book or movie, all of the Boston Sports teams, Sam Adams Boston Lager, a juicy burger, and of course Chocolate Chip cookies.
He did not love cold weather, early mornings, cheese, the Yankees, 3-putts, or duck hooks, but he loved being a father, grandfather, and pediatrician. He worked very hard at that and always had time for his family and patients. He will be remembered fondly by many thousands of South Shore children, parents, and grandparents as a soft spoken, kind, empathetic and supportive voice in their families lives.
Jim was thankful for so much — his amazing wife, his wonderful parents, his kids, their spouses and grandchildren, his Dalmatians, Cavaliers, and cats, great friends and co-workers, and for being born in the U.S.