Zachary Adam Cornwell<br/>September 5, 1994 - April 4, 2015

Zachary Adam Cornwell had the ability to breathe in the worries, pain, and problems of the world and breathe out joy and happiness. On April 4, 2015, 20-year-old Zachary walked into the loving arms of the Lord after being hospitalized for Evans Syndrome, an autoimmune blood disorder. He was the kindest, gentlest person packaged in a 6’4,” 300 lb. frame - a football star viewed as a shining example of courage, generosity, confidence, and love by all who knew him. A ferocious blocker on the field, Zachary was a gentle giant off it (unless he was wrestling with his brother).

Zachary played offensive and defensive line for the Newport Harbor High School Varsity Football Team, earning First Team, All-Sunset League honors in 2012. He was a 2012 Daily Pilot Dream Team pick as well as 3rd Team, All–Orange County that same year. Zachary played for the victorious South team in the Orange County North-South Prep All-Star football game in 2013, before joining the Saddleback College football program as a guard.

Zachary had to overcome many obstacles growing up and he did so with a smile on his face and laughter in his heart. No one ever said they “like” Zachary; everyone said they “love” Zachary. He was everyone’s best friend – whether they wanted it or not. He was quick to a joke, quick to acknowledge when it wasn’t funny, and even quicker to laugh together about it. Laughter is how Zachary measured his life, and he was leading the field. He lit up the room no matter where he was - between his bad jokes (“Zach, what position do you play?” “Lock-down corner”) and his genuine free spirit, he was always fast to laugh and slow to judge. Every day with Zach was filled with sunny optimism – sometimes unrealistic but always entertaining. Zach’s family, friends, and the whole community suffered a loss of pure joy and kindness with his passing – he will be greatly missed and never forgotten.

Zachary was preceded in death by his grandfather Raymond Dern and his grandmother Virginia Cornwell. He leaves behind his parents, Fred and Mary Cornwell and his brother Hayden, as well as his grandfather Howard Cornwell and grandmother Margaret Dern, and his aunts and uncles Arnold and Kathy Frankenberger, Marcy and Wes Kim, Susan Dern, Dave and Barbara Masarik, Luis and Connie Hernandez, and many cousins.

A funeral mass for Zachary will be held on Thursday, April 9, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Newport Beach, with a reception to follow at 2:00 p.m. at Santa Ana Country Club, 20382 Newport Boulevard in Santa Ana. Interment will be at Pacific View Memorial Park and Mortuary at 3500 Pacific View Drive in Corona del Mar. The viewing will be at Pacific View Mortuary on Wednesday, April 8, 2015 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made in Zachary Cornwell’s name to Children’s Hospital of Orange County-Hematology Department.