John F. Wilcox

WILCOX John F. Wilcox, age 41, husband of Sarah Louise Hawkins Wilcox, father of Claire Hawkins Wilcox, and Luke Jonathan Hawkins Wilcox, beloved son of Civita and Frank Wilcox, died on Sunday, August 21, 2005, of a heart attack. He was born on June 24, 1964. John, was a native of Darien and a 1982 Darien High School graduate, he served 20 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, and retired in 2004 as a gunnery sergeant. He received many awards and citations during his military career, including a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation medal for "meritorious service" while serving as maintenance management officer of the Marine expeditional unit. He was deployed with the Commander, United States 5th Fleet, on a ship in the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. According to his citation, Wilcox's supervisory and organizational skills directly contributed to the combat readiness of equipment that maintained an overall readiness of 98 percent. In addition, he coordinated and established sound maintenance procedure which enhanced equipment performance during combat operations in southern Afghanistan. "Gunnery sergeant Wilcox's distinctive accomplishments, unrelenting perseverance, and steadfast devotion to duty reflected credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps and the United States Naval Services", according to the citation signed by M.R. Milliken, Rear Admiral, Commander, United States 5th Fleet. Wilcox was on the U.S.S. peleliu from August through February 2002 and has also served in South Carolina, North Carolina, Japan, Hawaii, Okinawa, California, and Louisiana. While in the service, John earned a Bachelor's degree and a Master's of Science in Administration. Since his retirement, John made his home in Monroe and has been employed at Fermont of Bridgeport as reset manager overhauling generators coming back from Afghanistan of Iraq. He will be greatly missed by all his family who were so happy to have him return home after so many years away, but especially his sister, Marj Trifone and her husband, Rob Trifone, of Darien; his brother, Lee Wilcox and his wife, Joan Wilcox, of Stamford; as well as nieces Jenny and Cami, and nephews, Kevin, Christian, Bobby and Mark. He is also survived by his aunts, Ernestine Querro, Margie Canto, Joyce Hill and her husband, George Hill, all of Darien. He also will be missed by many cousins. He was predeceased by his uncle, Louis Canto. Wake hours will be held at Lawrence Funeral Home, on Friday (TODAY) from 5 to 8 p.m. The Mass of Christian Burial Burial will be Saturday at St. John Roman Catholic Church, Post Road, Darien, at 10 a.m. Burial will be at Spring Grove Cemetery immediately following. Contributions in John's memory may be made to USO World Headquarters, Department WS, P.O. Box 96860, Washington, DC 20090-6860 or Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, P.O. Box 1947, Quantico, VA 22134.