Rumsey Remembers Faithful Friend Lynette Cornell P '72, '74, '84, '86 GP '06, '08, '11, '17
Rumsey Hall luminary and faithful friend Lynette Cornell P '72, '74, '84, '86 GP '06, '08, '11, '17 was a Rumsey fixture for decades and a venerated member of the Board of Trustees from 1986-1992.
She and her husband, Linc, established and maintained strong ties to the School through their immediate and extended family: she was parent to Paul Linc Cornell ‘72, Steven Cornell ‘74, Michael Cornell ‘84, and Melinda Cornell ’86 Moran; grandmother of Christina Cornell ’06 Ruel, Nicholas Cornell ’08, Alexander Cornell ‘11, and Colby Moran ‘17; and great-aunt of Sarah Maxwell ’07 Pollack, Margaux Maxwell ’09, Anna Maxwell ’15, John Maxwell ’17.
An active and vivacious member of the Rumsey Circle Parents Association, Lynette donated considerable time and talent to many School initiatives over the years. Notably, she brought resourcefulness and enthusiasm to her role as Auction Co-Chair in 1985 and 1986 and Honorary Co-Chair in 1999, each time alongside esteemed Former Trustee Judith Auchincloss P ‘87.
In addition to her active involvement at Rumsey Hall, Lynette was happily engaged in her local community of Washington, CT. She served on boards for New Milford Hospital and The Frederick Gunn School, and supported numerous organizations including the Washington Club, the Institute of American Indian Studies and New Milford Animal Shelter.
Lynette is remembered warmly on campus as a kind soul who gave her time generously and with good spirit to champion Rumsey Hall and its growing community. In 2000, in honor of the School’s Centennial and with an eye towards preserving and empowering its future, the Cornell family gifted 14 acres of land, which would later become the site of Foothills I and II Dormitories and Lufkin Rink.
“Lynette was a big part of Rumsey Hall’s history. She was our loving neighbor, and she and Linc had all four of their children, and many of her grandchildren, educated at Rumsey in their early years,” said Jay Przygocki, P'00, '03, Rumsey Athletic Director. “Lynette was a “Marvelous Mother” in more ways than one. (Marvelous Mothers, a field hockey team that Lynette helped form, and for which she played, was made up of mothers from the area who loved the game of field hockey and who found fun and a good workout playing against local high school teams.) She supported our community like it was a bigger part of her family, and she cared about everyone. She was passionate about shaping our beautiful valley and campus in a loving way. Her kind words and pleasing smile will be missed by all.”
Przygocki continues, “This quote by Helen Keller is so fitting to Lynette’s passing: ‘What we have once enjoyed we can never lose; all that we deeply love becomes a part of us.’
Though Lynette called everyone she knew ‘sweetie’, Lynette was indeed, our sweetie as well. May Lynette’s warm personality, never ending energy, and love of life and family be an example we all live by.”
In addition to her immediate family, Lynette is survived by nephew John C. Maxwell III and her niece Susan Sky. She was preceded in death by her brother John C. Maxwell Jr. and her beloved Eva Henderson.