Derek William Cox, 82, passed away on October 23, 2025, at 5 p.m. at Saint Thomas Midtown Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee. A beloved husband, father, stepfather, and grandfather, he will be remembered for his devotion to family, his creativity, and a life lived with curiosity and care.
Born on May 30, 1943, in Southgate, London, United Kingdom, Derek grew up there and carried his British identity proudly throughout his life. He earned a Bachelor of Architecture from the London College of Architecture in 1972 and later completed Master’s degrees in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Regional Planning at the University of Pennsylvania in 1982.
On March 23, 1996, Derek married Ginny D’Estree in Harvington, UK. Together, they built a loving home and a shared life marked by partnership, adventure, and steadfast support. He cherished his family relationships—as a father to Geoffrey Cox (Mimi Yang) and Adrian Cox (Mai Cox), and as a stepfather to Rob McCaffrey (Yo McCaffrey) and Michael McCaffrey (Karen McCaffrey)—and took great joy in being “Grampy” to his grandchildren: Miranda Georginow, Deven McCaffrey, Leland Cox, Nola Cox, and Rei Cox.
Derek’s career in architecture spanned continents and decades. In the mid-1970s, he practiced with Elsworth Skye’s Partnership Architects in London, during which time he purchased his first flat—an early milestone that helped lay the groundwork for a comfortable retirement. From 1984 to 1987, he served as Professor of Architecture at the National University of Singapore, embracing teaching, triathlons, and scuba diving. In New Jersey, he worked for nearly a decade with Musial Group Architecture in Elizabeth, contributing to the city’s waterfront development and a firehouse project.
He later returned to England to work with Courtaulds, collaborating with local townships on riverbank cleanup and landscaping. Following this, he returned to New Jersey, where he spent nearly ten years with Paul Sionas Architects in Montclair, designing residential and condominium developments, the historic renovation of the Marlboro Inn, and restaurants in Upper Montclair, alongside notable remodeling work for several celebrities. Ultimately, he founded Cox Architecture in Montclair, where his township-approved two-family home, garden, and pond designs drew admiration from neighbors. The creative problem-solving that defined his professional life also flourished in his own homes in Montclair and, later, Nashville—gazebos, ponds, water features, and imaginative landscape architecture reflected his vision and craftsmanship.
Faith and community were important constants. Derek was an active member of The Village Chapel (TVC) in Nashville and participated in a book club and a wine club with themed tastings. Earlier, he performed in a church theater production in Montclair alongside Ginny, an experience that blended his sense of play with community life.
Family and friends knew Derek as fiercely loyal and devoted, with a singular focus when in “project mode.” He approached problems with persistence—sketching, tinkering, and iterating—and, over time, he became proficient with tools like AutoCAD and Revit. Playful and mischievous, he was known for an affectionate wink, a well-timed “oh sausages!” or “go jump off your horse,” and for matching outfits with Ginny (and sometimes the grandchildren). Always clean-shaven and unmistakably British, he stayed connected with loved ones, including as an avid Facebook user in later years.
Derek’s hobbies and passions were many. He painted in watercolor and sketched, built a large Dickens village complete with trains and scenery, and delighted in architectural models and design tinkering. A devoted gardener and outdoor designer, he filled his homes with ponds, dragon statues, and lush plantings. He traveled widely: hitchhiking through Europe in youth, backpacking across the U.S., competing in triathlons and diving in Singapore, RV trips across the U.S. (including Alaska), hiking the Grand Canyon, and journeys with Ginny across Greece, Spain, Egypt, Russia, Australia, Africa, Argentina, Ireland, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand.
He explored with his children as well—from Acapulco and Canada to the Appalachian Trail and European road trips—and visited them internationally in El Salvador, Berlin, Belize, and Japan while returning regularly to Seattle for family milestones. A Tottenham Hotspur supporter, he watched matches with the Nashville supporters’ club and enjoyed mini golf, board games, and soccer with his grandchildren. He loved blue cheese (and cheese of all kinds), oysters, eggs benedict, and the occasional Old Speckled Hen or Boddingtons. A devoted daily napper, he was also a collector, assembling a large and ornate turtle figurine collection gathered from around the world.
Significant milestones included his first property purchase in London and the extensive renovation of the family home on Lorraine Avenue in Montclair (a testament to his vision and resilience), and a move to Nashville with Ginny in 2013 for retirement. In recent years, he faced a two-year battle with myelofibrosis (a form of bone marrow cancer) with courage.
Derek’s legacy is one of love, imagination, generosity, and patience. His children, stepchildren, and grandchildren regarded him as a hero. He inspired creativity and an adventurous spirit across generations, often offering his architectural talents to friends at no charge. In every place he lived, he created beauty—gardens, spaces, and memories that endure.
He is survived by his wife, Ginny D’Estree Cox; his children and his stepchildren. He was preceded in death by his father, William Cox; his mother, Daisy Cox; his older brother, John Cox; and his younger brother, Barry Cox.
A gathering of family & friends for Derek will be held Saturday, November 1, 2025 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Marshall- Donnelly- Combs Funeral Home, 201 25th Ave North, Nashville, TN 37203, followed by a celebration of life from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM. https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/nashville-tn
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