RETIRED Superior Court Judge David Wiseman said his longtime dear friend and colleague, former Attorney General Rexford Kosack, made substantial contributions to the legal and judicial development of the CNMI.
“It is with a deep sense of sorrow and gratitude I had when I learned of his passing,” said Wiseman who now lives in Hawaii.
Kosack, who had pancreatic cancer, passed away on Dec. 16, 2021 at his Saipan home. He was 68.
“We have lost Rex, an attorney of a high order with a variety of talents, who was dear to many people,” Wiseman said. “Dear to those family members who loved and cared for him, dear to those friends, like me and my family, who had the benefit of his willingness to share his expertise, life knowledge and skills in all areas of life with others, which is why we consider ourselves grateful for having had the opportunity to have known and worked with him for more than three decades,” the retired judge added.
Kosack’s legacy “is his contributions to the legal and judicial development of the CNMI [while serving as] attorney general in the early growing days of the Commonwealth, a special judge, and so many other positions, as well as a major participant professionally, community-oriented and socially, all of which are too numerous to mention, however they were substantial and positive.”
“Our condolences to his family, loved ones, and friends for their loss, which is also a loss to the world,” Wiseman added.
Kosack obtained his law degree from the University of California, Davis. He first arrived on Saipan in March 1981 to serve as chief of the Office of the AG’s criminal division. From 1983 to 1986, he served as the AG of Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio.
Former Judge Timothy Bellas was another close friend of Kosack.
“There was a personal friendship between all of us,” Bellas said, referring to Kosack and Wiseman. “The relationship was sufficiently close that both Judge Wiseman and I never handled cases in which Rex was representing one of the parties.”
Bellas added, “We also saw each other on various social occasions around the community and we attended celebrations in each other’s houses…. We, along with others, attended almost every Thanksgiving at the Kosack residence for about 24 years.”
“Rexford Kosack was a resident of the CNMI for 40 years and while he may be best known for being one of the best private attorneys in the CNMI, he made many other valuable contributions to the community,” Bellas said.
“He served in government as attorney general, special judge, trade counsel and in one case as a special master. But he was also an active member of the Saipan Community Church and a very active member of the Marriage Encounter program for many years.”
Bellas said Kosack enjoyed participating in several sports activities, including sailing, windsurfing, hiking and biking.
Rex Kosack was the husband of Claire S. Kosack; the father of Vanessa Aireen Kosack and Nicholas Alexander Kosack; the grandfather of Chloe, Justin and Joseph; and the brother of Joan Kosack.
From 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2021, there will be a public viewing at the Borja Funeral Home.
Rexford Kosack
