Kimberly Ann Cox-York passed away suddenly at the age of 53 in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Kim was born in Colorado Springs, Colo., on Feb. 5, 1971, to Edwin (Edgie) and Charlotte Cox of Victor, Colo. Kim grew up in Victor and Cripple Creek and graduated as a member of the National Honor Society from Cripple Creek-Victor High School in 1989. During high school, Kim was active in volleyball, basketball, cheerleading, drama, the debate team, and 4-H, excelling at all of them.
Kim went on to college at Fort Lewis College, where she originally planned to become a lawyer. She had an exceptional science professor during her first year of college and changed her major. Kim went on to earn her BS in Biology and Chemistry in 1994. Kim moved to Oregon to pursue graduate coursework and met John York. Together, thanks to John’s service in the Coast Guard, Kim traveled to Hawaii where she completed her Master of Science, Nutritional Sciences from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. The couple moved to New Jersey when John was restationed. They welcomed Samantha Trinity York on July 2, 2004.
In December of 2006, Kim and her family returned to Colorado, this time settling in Fort Collins. Kim went on to pursue her PhD, earning her PhD in Food Science and Human Nutrition from Colorado State University (CSU) in 2009. Kim served as a Research Scholar in the department of Food Science and Human Nutrition (FSHN) from 2011-2017. In 2017, Kim became an Assistant Professor in the Department of FSHN.
During her time at CSU, Kim continued to grow and expand her love of research, mentoring and service. From 2017-2020 Kim was the Graduate Program Coordinator in FSHN. She was passionate about mentoring students and formally mentored more than 25 students, as well as serving on numerous thesis committees. Then, working in the Office of the Vice President for Research, between 2017-2021, Kim served as the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Coordinator. Kim became the Director of the Research Integrity Office and was named the Research Integrity Officer in February 2021. Kim served on numerous university committees including the Administrative Professional Council, Non-Tenure Track Faculty Council, and the Biomedical Institutional Review Board.
External to CSU Kim was involved in the Mobile Lab Coalition, the Association for Research Integrity Officers, and was a champion in the Higher Education Leadership Initiative for Open Scholarship. Kim loved to be outside, and was an equal opportunity gardener – always excited to see what volunteers would show up each summer. She also believed in having something cold and crunchy with every meal.
Kim is preceded in death by her grandparents, father Edwin, and brother Jeff. She is survived by her daughter Samantha, mother Charlotte, brother David (Marion) Greenlee, sister Karen (Jim) Muntzert, nephews Douglas (Kourtney) Leaf, Tyler Bowman, and Damon (Kiah) Cox; nieces Jacklyn (Tony) Steeples, Nicole (Travis) Crawford, Kylie Muntzert, Ann Walker (Daniel) Greenlee Huttchson, and Morgan Cox; numerous great-nieces and great-nephews and her soulmate Stacey Baumgarn.
Kim will be remembered by all as intelligent, ethical, outspoken, and a loving, giving friend to so many. True to her nature, Kim has donated her body for scientific research. In her own words, she wished to be remembered this way: “That I loved my family and friends, cared for the planet, and respected all life.”
A Celebration of Life is planned for June 1, 2024 at 1 p.m. at the CSU Trial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Kiva, Trees Water People, National Public Radio Station KUNC 91.5FM (NPR for Northern Colorado), or the Rocky Mountain Raptor Program.
