Arts Leader Dies

[Towntalk]

Coy Cornelius

YOUNGSTOWN – Coy Cornelius died April 4, 2009, at home in Youngstown.
He was born Aug. 26, 1941 in Leadville, Colo.
Coy was a graduate of Thayer (Missouri) High School (1959), Southwest Missouri State University (B.F.A. 1973), and the University of Arkansas (M.F.A. 1977).
An advocate for the arts and business in Youngstown, Coy created and exhibited metal sculpture and designed fine arts furniture and objects. He also owned and operated a series of successful hair styling businesses.
Committed to community preservation and renewal, Coy redeveloped a 100-year-old warehouse on Federal Street, beginning in 1982. Until it burned in 2005, The Youngstown Mattress Company Arts Center offered a locus for arts activity in the downtown area. In 2007, he began renovating another retail and arts facility at 1931 Belmont Ave. (the former Ambrosio Restaurant). Coy was a past board member of the Youngstown Area Arts Council and served on the Youngstown Board of Trade.
Kind, witty, and charming, Coy had an original perspective and a strong independent streak. Always curious, always interesting, and gifted with more ideas than he could possibly execute, Coy was deeply loved by family, friends, clients, colleagues, patrons, and apprentices. He touched and inspired many.
Coy is survived by his wife, Judy Rogers of Youngstown; his daughter, Sarah Cornelius of Pittsburgh; his son, Carey Cornelius and daughter-in-law, Jackie Cornelius of Orange Park, Fla.; his mother, Mildred Cornelius of Thayer, Mo.; two brothers, Ron Cornelius of Thayer and John Cornelius of Naples, Fla.; and two sisters, Patti Floyd of Ft. Smith, Ark. and Bonni Funk of Orlando, Fla.
His father, Hervel Cornelius, died in 1992.
Schiavone Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to complete Coy's landscape design at 1931 Belmont Ave.
A memorial will be planned and announced at a later date.
Donations can be made to J. Rogers Studios, 423 Catalina Ave., Youngstown, OH 44504.