Hundreds Pay Respects at Service for Danny Cox

Hundreds gathered at Petaluma High School on Sunday to bid farewell to Danny Cox, the 19-year-old who over the past year captured the hearts of Petaluma residents with his resilient spirit and optimism despite a diving accident that left him paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair chair a year ago.

As John Lennon’s “Beautiful Boy” and Led Zepellin's "Stairway to Heaven" played over the speakers, friends, family and many others who had never met Danny, but became his supporters during the past year, streamed onto Durst Field to pay their respects.

Watch a video montage of the memorial service on the right

when the Dodge Magnum he was driving crashed into an oak tree on Highway 101, just two weeks after receiving his handicapped drivers license. His death sent a shock through the community, which has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for his care and celebrated his progress in recent months, such as increased feeling in his upper body and movement of pinkies following stem cell therapy.

“My son was so amazing,” said his father Chris Cox, during his eulogy on Sunday. “Look at what he did, what he accomplished,” he said, pointing to the sea of yellow and black, Danny’s favorite colors, that mourners were asked to wear.

“He showed compassion for everybody and he taught us to be kind and love each other…If I had one word to say to anybody today is go home and hug your child, tell them you love them and that you are proud of them.”

In addition to Danny’s father, his sisters, Emily and Sophie spoke at the service, along with his girlfriend, Katie Dunbar, a junior at Petaluma High School.

“It was amazing to see him working so hard (during his recovery) on a daily basis, while holding onto his sense of humor,” Dunbar said. “He was the funniest person I knew. He was always trying to convince me of things we both knew weren’t true, like that Russia is only one continent and the song “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” came before the movie.”

Coach Jim Lynch recalled Cox’s amazing talent on the track field, where he excelled in all aspects of the sport including hurdle, high and long jump and relays.

“He excelled in all these events, which is rare for athletes,” Lynch said. “He was an amazing kid, amazing athlete and human being…He was a beautiful boy and it’s so sad that his life was cut short.”

The memorial service was led by Pastor Jay Stapleton, a family friend and previously a minister at where the Cox family worshipped. He said that Danny’s passing was an occasion for people to confront their own attitudes about life and death and celebrate the small things every single day.

“All of us have so many questions in our hearts, sadness and maybe even anger,” Stapleton said. “But today is a great occasion to honor Danny and also consider our own way and our destiny,” Stapleton said. “There is a home where Danny is free and can run forever.”

When the speeches were over, the crowd was asked to walk one lap around the track in silence. Chris Cox released balloons in his son's memory and "Mad World" by Tears for Fears played. Ten, fifteen minutes passed, but the crowd lingered, as if trying to hold on to the sad beauty of the moment.

"Danny was always smiling and glowing, so much that when you were around him, you couldn't help but smile too," recalled Jennifer Felix, whose daughter was a friend. "He will be missed."