Obituary of Christopher Alan CORNWALL

June 1, 1935 – Liverpool, England
June 17, 2021 – Calgary, Alberta

Christopher Cornwall, passed away quickly and quietly on Thursday, June 17, 2021, in hospice in Calgary, Alberta shortly after his 86th birthday, after struggling with multiple health complications over the last year and a half. 

During his final months, Chris expressed that he was not in pain, but rather was just extremely weak and tired. Unfortunately, during the Covid pandemic, Chris was physically separated from his family, but his children kept in regular contact with him via phone, window, and limited hospital visits. Despite his serious health challenges and the physical separation from his family, Chris remained incredibly positive and pleasant, as was his nature. 

Chris was born in Liverpool, England on June 1, 1935, the only child of Dr. Victor Cotton Cornwall, a pulmonologist, and head of Fazakerly Sanatorium, and Isa Cotton Cornwall (nee Black). Chris’s childhood was spent as a mixture of living in their house on the hospital grounds, moving around the UK during World War II following his father’s army medical posts, and living at various boarding schools (including, Liverpool College). 

While working on his BComm in hotel management at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland, Chris met the love of his life, Mary Kennedy, at a dance. As Chris told the story; he wasn’t planning to go out that Saturday night, but a friend dragged him along to the dance where he met Mary, and it was love at first sight. The two married in November 1956 and enjoyed 54 years together before Mary died unexpectedly in April 2010. 

In the spring of 1963, Chris immigrated to Canada via ship, where the only family he knew were two of Mary’s cousins (Molly and Winnifred Patterson). After securing a position at the Royal York Hotel in Toronto, Ontario, Mary, Stephen, Deanne, and the family dog, Toby, joined him. In 1965, Mary’s parents, William and Mary Kennedy, emigrated from Clydebank, Scotland, to Toronto to live with Chris and the family. This expansion of the family eventually saw them move to Markham, Ontario, where the three generations continued to live together in a large home. 

For the bulk of his career, Chris worked in hotel management, with a three-year stint as a protocol officer for the Government of Ontario. Throughout his career he met many famous people, from the Beatles to Eleanor Roosevelt. With excellent training at hotel school, Chris was an accomplished and enthusiastic chef. He particularly delighted in cooking large elaborate meals for family and friends on special occasions, and those who attended these events have many warm memories. Chris also did the daily cooking for his family throughout his married life, much to Mary’s relief.

In 1981, Mary accepted a job transfer to Calgary, Alberta, and Chris, ever-supportive of his talented wife, was up for the new adventure. While their adult children remained in Ontario, Chris, Mary, her mother, and the family dog, Cori, moved to their new home in Deer Run Estates. They chose this location in part to be close to their only family in Calgary at that time, Mary’s cousin Molly (husband Johnny, and son Paul Sperman). Before moving west, Chris had transitioned his career from hotel management to working as the director of a chain of retirement homes. He continued in that field of work after the move, managing three nursing homes in Calgary (Chinook, Southwood and Brentwood). He had great respect for the seniors in the nursing homes. He often said that age was just a number, and that it was important to connect with and respect the elderly. While director of the nursing homes, Chris took his two dogs, Cori and Perla, to work with him, and he would often stop to visit with the residents who were missing their own pets.

In 1996, Mary started a technical editing business, Cornwall Communications Inc., and Chris was her behind the scenes partner, doing whatever needed to be done to support Mary’s efforts. He also enjoyed time away from work, and loved planning and taking holidays with the family. Whether it was going to Sanibel Island with Stephen, Lecia and the grandkids, several visits to the Caribbean with Mary or later on, touring Britain with Deanne and Dan, Chris was always up for new experiences.

As the only child of older parents, in younger years, Chris developed brotherly relationships with his cousin Paul Moritz (Vancouver), and Mary’s younger sister Margaret, who married a good friend of Chris’s, Peter Johnston (Devon, England). Margaret and Peter’s two daughters (Shareen and Stephanie) both immigrated to Calgary as adults, and Chris was always delighted to welcome more family to the growing Calgary clan.

Chris was at times charismatic and suave, but he was also welcoming, easy going and open minded. He was both a good listener and a great storyteller. He loved nice cars and driving. An avid Formula 1 racing fan, he greatly enjoyed taking his BMW convertible out for ‘a run’ on the backroads on a beautiful day – top down. He was a keen history buff, an avid reader, lover of dogs (and in later life, cats). After Mary’s passing, he carried on quite well, competent enough to shop and cook for himself, but enjoying weekly visits from his housekeeper and good friend, Lynda Nickel (nee Van der Laan). 

Chris will be fondly remembered for his graciousness and generosity, as well as his playfulness and quintessentially British sense of humour. He was a patient and loving husband, father, son-in-law, grandfather, and friend. He was dedicated to his family, including his all his fur children and granddogs. In later years, his constant companion was his little Burmese cat named Tika, who also loved a good car ride. Tika got to visit Chris in hospital and continues to be part of the family, now living with Deanne and Dan. 

Chris will be greatly missed by his loving children and their families, Stephen Cornwall, wife Lecia Cornwall, and children, Griffin and Olivia Cotton Cornwall, of Heritage Pointe, Alberta; and daughter Deanne Cotton-Cornwall, and partner Dan Belczewski of Calgary, Alberta. For all the goodness that Chris brought into this world, he will be fondly remembered by many.

A Memorial Celebration of Chris’ Life will be announced at a later date, when it is safer for all friends and family to travel and gather together. The family would greatly appreciate it if you would share your memories of Chris and let us know whether you would like to be notified when the celebration of his life is scheduled. Condolences, memories and photos can also be shared and viewed here. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial tributes may be made directly to one of the following animal shelters in memory of Chris and his love of animals: Pawsitive Match Rescue Foundation, Calgary (pawsitivematch.org) or ARTS Senior Animal Rescue, Alberta (animalrescuetransfersociety.com).

In living memory of Christopher Cornwall, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Fish Creek, 14441 Bannister Road SE, Calgary, AB T2X 3J3, Telephone: 403-256-9575.