We mourn the loss of Matthew Cox, a Phish fan whose life touched so many. We extend our condolences to all his family and friends. The members of TheRhombus.com online community of Phish fans initiated this memorial to Matthew, as a fitting tribute to his love of music. They ask that you join them in making memorial contributions to the Mockingbird Foundation in his name. Mockingbird is an all-volunteer grant-making organization, and a 501(c)3 designated (tax-exempt) nonprofit public benefit corporation. We have no salaries, paid staff, office or debts, and donate all our net proceeds to music education for children. For information on past grantees, please see our funding summary.

About Matt:

"My name is Amy McIlhaney, and I was the fiancée of Matt Cox, aka "Fungk" as he was know on the Rhombus. If you're not familiar with the rhombus, it is a Phish board where many fellow phish fans analyze and debate various subject matters, trade music, discuss music, styles, etc. and believe it or not develop some really cool friendships.

"On December 1, 2002, Matt was killed in a motorcycle accident on his way home from work off the island of St. Helena, SC. Matt had just left my family's house in Atlanta that same morning after enjoying an absolutely incredible Thanksgiving weekend and had to be at work that same evening. The road he was on when he left work @ 2am was dark and narrow, and Matt went off the road slightly, lost control, and clipped a telephone post, causing severe trauma to the heart.

"In remembrance of Matt, the Rhombus came together and started a fund to raise in his name to send to The Mockingbird Foundation in which we raised over $1000. It absolutely blew me away to see the love and support behind him and those who loved him.

"Matt was very passionate about writing (everything from poetry, to sci-fi, to music, you name it) and was also a very talented musician. After graduating from Clemson University, living in Atlanta for several years working in sales, heading out west to Colorado, Matt finally found a place where he could settle, a place where he was inspired and could concentrate on the things he enjoyed most without any distractions. He was at the happiest point in his life. He was concentrating mostly on his writing, but was also working almost daily as a substitute teacher and worked evenings as a bartender on Fripp Island. It was certainly a challenge being a teacher, but Matt loved challenging himself and taking risks and I know he touched many childrens lives in the process.

"I will remember Matthew for his caring and compassion for his friends and family, for his willingness to follow a dream, his smile, his dancing, his intelligence and mostly all the love and support he gave to me day in and day out."

Memorial Contributors