IN MEMORIAM: Robert J. Cornnell, 55;

Bank Executive Battled Cancer For 8 Years

EDMESTON – Robert James Cornnell, 55, of Edmeston, an Eagle scout, bank executive and performer in local theater, passed away Dec. 6, 2017, at his home following a courageous eight-year battle with cancer.

He was born in Utica on May 13, 1962, the son of Allan and Shirley (Preston) Cornnell and grew up in Holland Patent. He was a 1980 graduate of Holland Patent Central School. He later lived in Brownville and Rome, before settling in Edmeston in 1985 to help care for his grandparents.

Robert attended the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam as a tuba major. He received AOS degrees in Management and Accounting from the Utica School of Commerce, and a Bachelor of Finance Degree Cum Laude from SUNY Utica. He held life and health insurance licenses, as well as multiple investment product licenses.

Robert worked at Norstar Bank, later Fleet Bank, for 13 years following in the footsteps of his grandparents and father as a Branch Manager in the banking industry.
He also worked the next seven years as an Assistance Vice President and Branch Manager for Adirondack Bank in Holland Patent and Utica, and as an Investment Representative for M&T Bank in Norwich. For the past five years he was employed as a Commercial Underwriter with The Hartford.

Rob had a love of music, community theater, and sports, but there was nothing more he loved than spending time with his wife and children — particularly spending time in Canada fishing and relaxing at Dalhousie Lake.

He lived vicariously through his children’s travels around the world and took great pride in talking about what they had experienced. He was an avid photographer, and always had a camera in hand to record his kids achievements, and enjoyed taking photos of the local youth sports teams in action.

The Edmeston community will long remember his performances in “Hello Dolly,” “Fiddler on the Roof,” and numerous other Peet Hook Player musicals and plays he acted in and directed. He had also been a coach when his kids were younger for many community youth sports teams.

Robert was a member of the Boy Scouts of America for over 40 years, and earned the rank of Eagle Scout with 4 palms. He was also a member of the Order of the Arrow. Rob served as Cubmaster of Pack 9 for five years, and was an Asst. Scoutmaster with Edmeston Boy Scout Troop 9. He was a former Rotary member in Edmeston, Richfield Springs, and Norwich.

Robert is survived by his wife of 29 years Cynthia (Bolton), his beloved daughter Stefanie, and two incredible sons Jordan and Dante – the “Bud Club”; his father Allan Cornnell of Marcy, NY; his brother Richard of New Hartford, NY; his sister Carole of West Exeter, NY; 13 nephews and nieces and their family members, along with several aunts and uncles. He was predeceased by his mother Shirley, and his grandparents Ralph and Carolyn Cornnell of Edmeston.

Calling hours will 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, at the Delker & Terry Funeral Home, 30 South St., Edmeston. Funeral services will be 1 P.M. Sunday, Dec. 10, at the Second Baptist Church, 7 North Street, Edmeston. Interment will follow in Edmeston Union Cemetery.

Expressions of sympathy may be made to Catskill area Hospice and Palliative Care 1 Birchwood Drive Oneonta, NY 13820 in loving memory of Robert.

Arrangements are with NYS Licensed Funeral Director David Delker at Delker and Terry Funeral Home. To send condolences, visit www.Delkerterryfuneralhome.com, or Facebook at Delker & Terry Funeral Home.