Robert A. Cornell

Life’s Journey 

ROBERT ARTHUR ”BOB” CORNELL 

To plant a seed in one’s heart to root it in love… 

to nourish it with time spent together… 

yields a blossom that will flourish forever. 

Robert Arthur Cornell, professionally, known as “Bob”, by family, friends, and those he served was born on December 21, 1938, in Jersey City, New Jersey to his parents, Frank Cornell and Sylvia Coggins Cornell. He was the first born in the family and was always told that he needed to look out for his younger brother, Frankie Jr. He did so until Frankie preceded him in death at an early age. While spending his early years in New Jersey he lived with his family in a home at 18 Gardner Avenue, purchased by his grandparents Clarence and Lillian Coggins. They were the first black family to purchase a home in a previously all white neighborhood. This was a memorable time for him as he always talked about being raised in a neighborhood where everyone supported and helped each other. His father owned a printing business and his mother was a nurse. He spoke often of a time when at nine years old he was hospitalized for a minor medical procedure and his mother was the nurse that took care of him. 

During his preteen and teen years Bob had a taste of that entrepreneur spirit. He went to work at an early age, around 10 or 11 years, delivering groceries and newspapers. This led to his later working as a counselor in the Paul Revere Boy’s Club up until his graduation from high school. While a member of the Paul Revere Boy’s Club, he participated in football, basketball and baseball. He was proud of being selected as “Boy of The Year”, two years in a row which he always said, made his grandmother Lillian very proud of this accomplishment by her Grandson ”Robbie Boy”. During this period, he was also a member of his local Boy Scout Troop#12 and placed third in a statewide Ping Pong Championship Tournament. Robert received his early education in Jersey City, New Jersey at PS#18 for first Grade, PS#12 for Grammar School and graduated from Lincoln High School. 

Bob’s work experience spanned both the public and private sectors. In his early adult years his first real job was at the Maiden Form Bra Company. He and his friend, Roosevelt “Rosie” Johnson both worked at Maiden Form. This job led to Bob and Rosie beginning their military careers. The third member of the “3R’s”, Roscoe Reynolds, opted for continuing his education. All three were in the Army Reserves at the time, so Robert and Rosie joined the United States Air Force. While in the military he said he took every class he could, learned all he could and had a successful career. His areas of duty were Military Police and Training Officer. He served in several US states, prior to being assigned to Korea and Germany and in Vietnam, which he described as a very traumatic tour of duty. Prior to his honorable discharge, his last duty assignment was at the former Lowery Air Force Base. 

After the decision to stay in the Denver area, he later furthered his education by obtaining an Associates’ Degree in Law Enforcement at Arapahoe Community College. He was a lifelong learner. He attended and graduated from Colorado Sales Training Institute and later joined the staff. His career then turned to police work as he joined the Littleton Police Department. He was the second black officer to serve with the department. After a year with the department, he was assigned to the “Officer in the School” program. This program was created to give students the opportunity to meet, talk, and to get resources from a policeman. He was assigned to five schools throughout School District No. 6. He always expressed that to be successful as a policeman in any area they had to learn to take part in their community. In 1972, he received the Littleton Police Department Officer of the Year Award. That same year he was selected by the Littleton Jaycee’s as the Outstanding Young Law Enforcement Officer. After leaving Littleton Police, Bob moved on to work for the Federal Protective Service, Division Chief and Director of Public Safety/Police Chief for Auraria Higher Education Center. In later years Bob went to work for G4S Security, formerly Wackenhut. 

In 1978, that entrepreneur spirit had struck again, and Bob founded People Skills Institute, an occupational sales and training school. As a consulting firm, the mission of PSI was to help businesses increase their productivity and effectiveness while enhancing employees’ fulfillment in the workplace. Some of PSI’s achievements included training and development of the Collaborative Decision Making committees for Denver Public Schools; providing facilitation services to General Electric and team building training to Conoco Inc.; providing Diversity and Inclusion training to Motel 6/Red Roof Inns management employee’s at various locations throughout our 50 states. During these years, Bob also performed training for many City and County of Denver employees and other local organizations. For his work over the years, he received many accolades and awards, but three stood out for him. In 1993, Bob was the proud awardee of both the Rocky Mountain and National Supplier of the Year Award; 1997, he received the President’s award from Motel 6 LP. 

On November 1, 2009, Robert wed, Janice M. Alexander. They exchanged vows at the Four Points by Sheraton Denver S. E. Hotel. They shared many happy and precious times together. Many of those times were spent celebrating with Janice’s classmates from Manual High School and going to football games at Englewood High School with family. They enjoyed traveling together and with Katrisha, Robert and William and their friends, Jimmy and Josie Smith. Some of their enjoyable memories are of times they spent with the Smith’s in the Winter Park/Fraser area. 

Some things that Bob shared about his life are that he tried to be the best person he could be and help those he could. He loved Jehovah, his wife, and his children above all. He cared deeply for many in his life and always claimed his Grandmother and his Uncle Frank Coggins as his mentors. He admitted that he was human and made some of those life mistakes. He wanted the best for the families in his life. He asked to be forgiven for his short comings and that he is remembered for his strengths. 

Bob enjoyed life and those he encircled, especially just spending quality time with family and friends. Our Fat Boy’s Friday Group has been meeting for about 20 years. He was an early season ticket holder for the Denver Broncos and one highlight of every season was attending the games with his three sons when they played the arch rival Raiders. He liked spending time in the mountains, old westerns, trains, both model and the big ones. He was a seasoned traveler and his daughters remember the trip to California in the motor home and his sons remember their cross county trip to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He collected model trains, shot glasses, police badges and model cars from all over. For many years he was a conductor and engineer for the Tiny Town Railroad and a member of the Denver Society of Model Railroaders at Denver’s Union Station. He will be missed by all who were fortunate enough to have known this kind and wonderful man. To know “Bob” was to love him. 

He is preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Sylvia Cornell; a brother, Frank Cornell, Jr. 

Robert Arthur Cornell departed this life on September 27, 2024, in Denver, Colorado. Those left to cherish her memory and mourn his loss include his wife, Janice M. Cornell; his children, Robert M. (Aliya) Cornell, Andrew T. (Anné) Cornell, David M. (Emily) Cornell, Patricia E. (Christopher) Galli, Valerie D. (Michael) Cheshire, Katrisha L. (Robert Perkowski) Howell, Veshelle T. Howell; 12 grandchildren, Joel C. Galli, Isaiah A. Cornell, Charlie C. Cornell, Eren L.R. Cornell, Bradyen R. Lucero-Cornell, Olivia H. Cornell, Andrew A.J. Cornell, Adelaide E. Cornell, Gabriel E. Cornell, Abram J. Cornell; Henry R. Cornell, William Howell-Perkowski; three great-grandchildren, Ethan L. Beasley, Jonah D. Galli, Claire M. Galli; and a host of other relatives and many friends. 

His Journey’s Just Begun 

Don’t think of him as gone away- His journey’s just begun, 

life holds so many facets- this earth is only one... 

Just think of him as resting from the sorrows and the tears 

in a place of warmth and comfort where there are no days and years. 

Think how he must be wishing that we could know today 

how nothing but our sadness can really pass away. 

And think of him as living in the hearts of those he touched... 

for nothing loved is ever lost- and he was loved so much.

In Lieu of Flowers please donate to alz.org