Richard F. Cornwell

• 

Cornwell, Richard F. 90, of Scottsdale, AZ, formerly of Minneapolis and Windom, MN. Born March 20, 1927, Spring Valley, MN died May 19, 2017, surrounded by family, after a courageous battle with cancer. Survived by loving wife Geraldine ("Gerry") Cornwell, Phoenix, AZ; sisters Shirley Hathaway, of Pennsylvania, and Ann (Roy) Kingsley, Scottsdale, AZ; brother Ron (Joan) Cornwell, Bloomington, MN; daughter Nancy Hadfield, Glendale, AZ; son John (MaryLee) Cornwell, Woodbury, MN; step-daughters Janel Moede, Chandler, AZ; and Mary (Jeff) Kaiser, Woodbury, MN; and many nephews, nieces, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Preceded in death by parents Finch and Agnes Cornwell, and son Richard A. Cornwell. Dick was a WWII-era veteran, devoted family man, school principal, fitness buff, competitive water skier, avid barbershop singer, and strident advocate for social justice. Dick graduated from Minneapolis West H.S. in 1945. After serving in the U.S. Navy, he earned a B.A. with honors in 1949, and M.A. in 1952, at the Univ. of MN. Dick then served the Minneapolis Public Schools for 29 years, as an elementary teacher and principal, at Cooper, Howe and Lyndale schools, as well as an assistant administrator to the Superintendent. Dick also worked as a principal and teacher in Burnsville, MN, and in Cave Creek, AZ. Dick then earned his securities license and worked as a stock broker. In his retirement Dick remained dedicated to education, serving as a volunteer tutor with the AZ Literacy & Learning, helping ESL and disadvantaged students in schools and prisons. His entire life Dick was passionate about community service, social justice and civil rights. He served as a church lay leader, on city committees on Human Relations and Fair Housing, as Toastmasters leader and as president of the Minneapolis Principals Forum. As a committee chair for the National Education Association, in 1964, Dick organized a referendum requiring all elementary school principals' state delegations be racially integrated. He was a vocal critic of the Vietnam and Iraq wars, as shown by a number of published letters to the editors of the Arizona Republic and MN StarTribune. Dick was equally energetic in his hobbies. He was MN State Water Ski Champion, Sr. Men's slalom, American Water Ski Assn., in the 1960s-70s and continued to ski competitively and win tournaments past the age of 80 years. Dick also sang for years in Barbershop music clubs, such as the Minnetonka Clippers, Phabulous Phoenicians, Chordhustlers Chorus, and quartets including Four Ever Young. Services have been held. Memorial preferred in lieu of flowers to Habitat for Humanity.

Published on May 25, 2017