OBITUARY: Revered church man dies

The Rev. Robert Cornelison, one of Laguna’s most revered religious leaders, died Wednesday from cancer. He was 80.

Services will be at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, where Cornelison was rector for 30 years. The time and date of the service is pending.

He was a native Southern Californian, born Jan. 1, 1928. He attended seminary in Berkeley, but returned to his roots when he assigned his first parish in South Pasadena.

He came to Laguna with his family in 1968 to be the rector of St. Mary’s, in a time of turmoil in Laguna Beach.

“He was one of my heroes,” said the Rev. Colin Henderson, formerly attached to St. Mary’s.

“We only worked together for about 3 ½ years, but when you meet someone like him, it seems longer because of how much he affects one’s life.”

Henderson said Cornelison’s outstanding contribution to Laguna was the leadership role he took in community issues. Many of those issues were controversial, such as opening the church at night to provide a place for the city’s homeless population to sleep and the operation of a day labor center at the church.

However, Cornelison treated everyone with respect, even those who were most critical of his actions, and he was not deterred, Henderson said.

“If he believed if it was the right thing to do, that’s what he did,” Henderson said.

“He stood at a different place and saw things differently from others and time and time again, one had to say that’s where I should have been.”

Cornelius also had a well-developed sense of humor.

“He was one of the funniest people I ever knew,” Henderson said. “We would be rolling on the floor at staff meetings.”

The funeral service will be officiated by Bishop Robert Anderson, the Rev. Elizabeth I. Rechter, rector of St. Mary’s and the Rev. Brad Kaurelius, who was given his first job as assistant priest at St. Mary’s by Cornelison, family members said.

Cornelison is survived by his children, Dr. Leigh Tobias of Beverly Hills; Nina Grossman of Laguna Beach; Catherine Miller of Haiku, HI; Robert Cornelison Jr. of Laguna Beach; and Eve Larson of Costa Mesa.

“The last couple of months have been rough,” Grossman said. “But, the family takes solace knowing he is no longer in pain.”

A reception will follow the services.

“All are welcome,” Grossman said.

The family would like flowers at the church but donations can be made to Friendship Shelter.

St. Mary’s is at 428 Park Ave. For more information, call (949) 494-3542.

BARBARA DIAMOND can be reached at (949) 494-4321 or at coastlinepilot@latimes.com.