On Nov. 22, the Lexington community unveiled a memorial dedicated to the late Lisa George-Cox, a Special Education educator and track coach for Lexington Public Schools.  

Born and raised in Roxbury, MA, Cox graduated from Lexington High School in 1981. At LHS, she was a three-time Boston Globe Scholastic Track Athlete and an inductee to the LHS Athletic Hall of Fame.       

During her coaching career at LHS, Cox led the girls and boys indoor and outdoor track teams to numerous championships, including the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association Division I Championships and Middlesex League Meet Championships. In addition, she coached eight athletes to achieve All-American honors. 

“She took all of her knowledge from her growing up being a sprinter: how to make the kids better, how to train kids better, and she brought that knowledge and passion to practice everyday… Her legacy is that she made this program as good as it possibly could be, and the kids loved her for it,” Emmett O’Brien, a track coach who worked closely with Cox, said. 

Jayden Bai, a junior at LHS and athlete who trained under Cox, credited LHS’ track teams successes to her constant encouragement, motivation, and dedication.    

“Coach was the backbone of the sprints program, but also the team spirit. She was always happy and always clapping and cheering us on, so that was really a great aspect of her aura and spirit around LHS,” Bai said. 

Athletes also admired Cox’s efforts to create an inclusive environment among the members of the track team.      

 “Coach Cox cared a lot about everyone on the team. She cared about them. She helped them out, and she was always there for everyone,” Michael Gerfen, a junior sprinter on the LHS track team, said. 

In addition to boosting team morale, Cox helped many athletes discover their passion for track. 

“She was the reason I fell in love with track so much, and the reason I think it’s such an awesome sport,” Joshua Lee, a senior who trained under Cox, said. 

On top of growing up, coaching in the town, and putting her kids in the Lexington Public School systems, she was also a special education tutor at Clarke and Diamond Middle School.

“She was very involved in the Lexington community, she was a very big piece of it. She loved everything she did. She was as passionate about special education as she was for track field,” O’Brien said.

Throughout her life, Cox inspired others by spreading positivity and encouragement.

“She’s a name that everybody would recognize in the school, and I don’t think there’s ever been a negative connotation attached to her name. She was always very uplifting and encouraging,” Bai said. 

Cox’s memorial bench now sits in the exact place where she would always cheer on the LHS track races, supporting her student athletes. Her passion for track, kindness toward students, and unwavering support for her athletes will continue to inspire the Lexington community.