BRO. HARRY BERT CORNELL, III, S.M. died in the service of the Blessed Virgin Mary on September 19, 2022, at the age of 81 and with 63 years of vowed life. He was born in Schofield Barracks of Honolulu, HI on January 23, 1941 (less than a year before the bombing of Pearl Harbor.) He is the son of Harry Bert Cornell, II and Mary Elizabeth Helms.
Bro. Harry met the Marianists at Central Catholic H.S. in San Antonio, TX. After graduating in 1958, he entered the Marianist Novitiate at Galesville, WI and professed First Vows on September 5, 1959. Four years later, on August 18, 1963, he made his Perpetual Profession in St. Louis, MO. He studied at St. Mary University where he first earned a BA in Math in 1962, and later in 1964, an MS also in Math.
A Central Alumnus, he returned to Central Catholic H.S. as a teacher in 1962 where he began to excel as a Master Instructor in all things mathematics. Bro. Harry introduced classes in Computer Science when most other schools thought electric typewriters and calculators were advanced technologies, he moderated Photography and Debate Clubs, coached football, and mentored thousands of Central students for nearly 55 years. In 1968 he began to announce the Button sports events as a sub, and soon began a 50 plus year career as the “Voice of the Buttons”. Bro. Harry was also the Director of Camp TECABOCA for over 30 years. Whatever else he may have been, in his heart and life, Bro. Harry was a Religious of the Society of Mary, a “Brother of Mary,” devoted to his Brothers and the Mission they share, in their common faith in Jesus.
Bro. Cornell is survived by two sisters: Helen Janet Brown and Mary Carol (Gerhart) Klumb; nieces: Jennifer Brown, Lisa (Butch) Darnell, and Cynthia (Chris) Prokop; nephews: George Brown, Samuel Brown, Daniel (Barbara) Brown, Gary (Lori) Klumb, Brennan (Michele) Klumb, Eric (Michele) Klumb; and numerous cousins, great nieces, and great nephews.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Central Catholic H.S. Scholarship Fund or to the Marianist Mission, Mt. St. John, 4435 East Patterson Road, Dayton, OH 45430-1033.
Funeral Arrangements: Monday, September 26, 2022, 6:00 PM Viewing & 7:00 PM Rosary at Holy Rosary Church, and Tuesday, September 27, 2022, 3:00 PM Viewing & 4:00 PM Mass also at Holy Rosary Church. Burial will be in the Marianist Cemetery immediately following the Mass.
(Mass will be Live Streamed starting @ 3:50 PM https://www.facebook.com/holyrosarysa/videos)
Thank you for wearing your face mask.
