David Bean Cox

David Cox was born in Lihue, Hawai’i to Richard Horton Cox and Hester Virginia Cox on April 25, 1953. He passed away unexpectedly on June 1, 2025 during his Sunday morning bike ride.

David’s childhood was spent in Hawai’i. His parents moved their six children (four sisters, David, and his twin brother) to Honolulu in 1956. David attended Manoa Elementary and Punahou School, and Cornell University where he received a BS in Civil Engineering. Yet, his prized diploma was his certificate for completing kindergarten, which he displayed on the bookshelf in his home office.

After graduating from Cornell, David went to work for Turner Construction. His job took him from east to west, with time in New York City, Chicago, Milwaukee, San Antonio, Tulsa, Los Angeles, and finally San Diego. He joined the DPR team in 1994 and worked with them until his formal retirement in 2021.

At work, David took time to reach out and acknowledge the efforts of each job team member and the importance of their work. From the foundation to the finishing touches, he always knew who was doing what. He documented progress on job sites with his cameras for others to enjoy and learn from. His Youtube channel, under the username PMCWestVideos, shows a wide range of construction experiences, everything from ironwork and safety meetings to finding and rescuing stray kittens.

In San Diego, he met and married his wife and best friend Patricia (Pat). Their daughter Emily joined them in 1995, and the ultimate trio began.

David’s curiosity, intellect and crazy sense of humor loomed large in all aspects of his life. He endlessly investigated how things were put together and kept his mind open to all methods and solutions. He loved to travel with his family to experience different cultures, the evolution of architecture, and historical impacts on the world. The sight of a tower crane on the horizon always piqued his interest and required many photos.

His creativity was easy to see through his photography. He spent time behind the lens and at his computer, documenting work, family events, and travel. He meticulously organized his photos to then use them for memories and sharing. His test subjects for new cameras and lenses were often the family ’s cats.

He is survived by his wife Pat and daughter Emily as well as sisters, Millicent Cox (Norborne Clarke), Janet Brown (Tom), Lydia Chock (John), and Evelyn Cox (Frank Stanton), nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends and colleagues. His brother, Samuel, predeceased him.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the San Diego Public Library, his favorite podcast Marketplace, or a charity of your choice.

A celebration of life is pending.