Diana Carswell Cox

1945 - 2025

Diana Carswell Cox
August 31, 1945 - August 13, 2025
Longtime Austin resident Dian Carswell Cox passed away on August 13, 2025, at age 79. Dian was born on August 31, 1945 in Corpus Christi, TX to Joan Carswell Cox and Edley W. Cox.
After her parents divorced, Dian's mother later married John Glover Kennedy, and the family lived in many different places as Dian was growing up, including Key West, FL, St. Simons Island, GA, Tom's River, NJ, Pensacola, FL, and Chincoteague, VA. When that marriage ended in 1962, Dian's mother moved with her four children to Austin, where she had family. Dian graduated from McCallum High School and attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Radio-Television-Film in 1968. Like both her parents, Dian was a poetry lover. She was a primary voice in a lively ensemble staging of William Carlos Williams' work while at UT. She had a natural gift for public speaking. She hosted a radio show and interviewed Alfred Hitchcock.
Dian had a very accomplished career. She worked in broadcasting at television and radio stations, including KHFI-TV and KVET-KASE. She was the first female tour guide at the Texas Capitol, and also worked for U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen. Dian found her true calling as a mental health advocate and policy expert who worked to bring awareness and change for those suffering from the mental illnesses that affected her own life. She worked for many years at the Mental Health Association of Texas and helped launch the Family and Individual Reliance (FAIR) program, establishing support groups across the state of Texas for individuals and families affected by mental illness. She later worked as a policy advocate for Advocacy, Inc. She was a renowned public speaker in her field, giving presentations in such far-away places as Edinburgh and Cairo. Dian had the distinguished honor of receiving the Clifford Beers Award for her efforts advocating for people affected by mental illness, a cause deeply personal to her. Dian struggled with depression throughout her life.
On her mother's side, Dian is survived by her brother John Steven Kennedy and wife Doris of San Marino, CA, sister Kelley Strutton and husband David of Austin, and their children and grandchildren, as well as her nephews Jerry Swindall and Sean Swindall, the sons of her predeceased sister Tracy Kennedy Swindall. Dian took on a parental role for her nephew Jerry Swindall and gave him a home and the stability he needed during a difficult time. They maintained a special relationship throughout her life, and Jerry's daughter Phoebe was a bright spot in her last years.
On her father's side, Dian is survived by her brother Clay Cox and wife Renee of Richardson, sister Kara Giangiulio and husband David of Dallas, and their children.
Dian is also greatly missed by Porfirio Rios, her longtime special friend and an unending source of comfort and support who she called her "guardian angel." Dian was blessed with two other guardian angels, Betty Bobo and (Dee) Deidre Artist-Schultz, who entered Dian's life after the death of her mother, and who received Dian with love and friendship and displayed exceptional dedication to Dian through the rest of her life. Dian bravely faced a terminal illness with grace and strength.
Dian is preceded in death by her beloved mother Joan Carswell Kennedy, father Edley W. Cox, and sister Tracy Kennedy Swindall. A private graveside service was held for family and close friends.