Iris (Cox) Cappellucci passed away on December 24, 2025 in the presence of her husband Dave who was holding her until the end. She is now in the arms of her Savior, Jesus Christ.
Iris was born on Aug. 12, 1951, in Rangely to Innes and Lucille Cox, residents of Artesia, now known as Dinosaur. Iris’s father ran the power company for the town and family lore says that he founded the town as well. She grew up in small towns in Colorado, New Mexico and Utah. Iris grew up mostly as a Methodist, but since the tiny towns often only had one Christian church, that is where they went. Iris was musically talented and often played church organ.
Iris lived in the hamlet of Bluff, Utah, for her first year in school, then moved north a few miles to Blanding, Utah, where she attended school from second through eighth grade. Fifth grade was a milestone where she was inspired in science and mathematics by her teacher, Mr. Kunz, who she often spoke of. The family moved to Albuquerque when she entered high school. After graduation, she enrolled at New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology in Socorro, New Mexico. She graduated with both a BS and MS in mathematics.
Iris married in college and moved to Upton, New York, and the Brookhaven National Labs where her husband was employed as a research scientist. She attended Stony Brook University where she received her PhD in mathematics in 1982. In 1983, she gave birth to her daughter Lea. After graduation, she taught at several east coast institutions including Southampton College, Seton Hall University and St. John’s University, before moving to Warminster, Pennsylvania, to work as an operations research analyst for the US Naval Air Development Center. She was becoming well-known in her field and was lured away to Bethpage, New York, to work as a senior research scientist at Grumman Corporate Research Center. Iris was a pioneer in both robotics and artificial intelligence.
In 1989, she moved with Lea to Colorado Springs to be closer to family. It was there she met Dave Cappellucci while both worked for Ford Aerospace Corporation. They quickly fell in love and were married in 1990. Dave’s son Ben became fast friends with Lea. A year later, Ben and Lea were joined by Jeff. Dave and Iris beat the odds and maintained a solid, loving blended-family and were still happily married after 35 years.
Iris continued to work several jobs including McDonnell Douglass and MCI Worldcom. In 1999, Iris retired into her job of choice, mom. Iris was a very talented painter, filling many canvases with images inspired by Hudson River School. Her newest passion, landscaping, came after retirement. Each new house the family lived in became a new canvas which she filled with beauty.
The family wishes to thank the staff at Gunnison Senior Care for the great care Iris received. Donations should be made to the Alzheimer’s Association in her name.
