Andrew E. Cornellier Jr.

DRACUT – Andrew E. Cornellier Jr., age 85, a longtime resident of Dracut, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, December 22, 2020.  

Born in Lowell, on September 10, 1935, he was a son of the late Andrew E. and Lillian E. (Nolan) Cornellier Sr. 

Andy was educated in the Dracut school system and was a graduate of Dracut High School class of 1953.  

He then joined the U.S. Air Force and served after the Korean War for support from 1954 until his honorable discharge in 1957. 

After returning home, Andy married his high school sweetheart, the late Florence (Janek) (Cornellier) Kaplan, with whom he raised their six children.  

He went on to graduate from  Lowell Technological Institute where he earned his Bachelorette Degree in Business Management.

Andy led an extensive prominent career in aquatics, having been employed as a professor and director of aquatics for UMass Lowell.  He was a water safety instructor, Dean of Life Saving, a divemaster, an underwater explorer and a member of the National Aquatics School.  He was very involved with the American Red Cross and their lifeguard training program throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as well as the Lowell Boys Club.  He was also a chief diver for Sanders Associates. 

He is survived by four sons and three daughters-in-law, Andrew and Lisa Cornellier of Tyngsborough, James and Jill Cornellier of East Topsham,VT, Brian Cornellier of Dracut and Arthur and Lynda Cornellier of Tyngsborough; two daughters and two sons-in-law, Janice Tansey and her husband James of Ashby, MA and Ann Valcourt and her husband Bryan of Nashua; fourteen grandchildren and three great grandchildren.  He was also the brother of the late Robert Cornellier. 

Relatives and friends will be received at the TYNGSBOROUGH FUNERAL HOME, 4 Cassaway Dr., Tyngsborough on Thursday, Dec. 31, from 3 to 7 p.m. To ensure everyone’s safety, all those attending will be required to wear a face mask and practice social distancing. Due to the current restrictions, Andy’s Funeral Mass will be held privately.  In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37839, Boone, IA 50037-0839 or https://www.redcross.org/donate/donation.html/. For online condolences or directions, please visit www.tyngsboroughfuneralhome.com. 

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