Luis Cornier-Maldonado, 75, was born September 13, 1932 in Barrio Guaraguao, Ponce, Puerto Rico. He was the fifth son of the late Felix Cornier-Rodriguez and Maria Maldonado-Soba, both from Puerto Rico.
A loom-fixer for textiles since age sixteen, Luis came to the USA in the early 1960’s. He settled in New Bedford, sent for his wife and later for his daughters. He worked at Calco, Berkshire-Hathaway, and Debson Mills, retiring proudly as a loom fixer, and shift supervisor. He was a multi-talented handyman and an avid reader. He firmly believed in the power of education. In his later years friends often described him as a quiet, reverent man.
Luis had been a proud lodge member of The Grand Order of Odd Fellows in America since 1958. In the late 60’s, he helped found the Puerto Rican Social Club, organizing a baseball team, dances, festivals, and a youth group. He was a well-liked and respected member of the Calvary Pentecostal Church in Freetown, where for many years he served as an usher, a deacon, and a trustee. He was a graduate of the Biblical Institute of the Christian Revival Temple, and sought to both deepen his understanding and to share God’s word and works with the community. He worked for a time in the prison ministry, and had the opportunity to do missionary work in the Azores.
He is survived by his wife of fifty-six years, Lydia (Rivera-Arroyo) Cornier; by two of his daughters, Enid Cornier-Rivera, and her husband Donald J. Roberts, of Mississippi and Ilia Cornier-Rivera of Amherst; his half-brother Hector Acevedo of Ponce, P.R.; and seven grandchildren: Kalil Baez-Cornier of Amherst, Nigel U. Rossello-Cornier of Boston, Adrian B. Rossello-Cornier of New York, Julian B. Rossello-Cornier of Boston, Tatiana Y. Rossello-Cornier of Amherst, Dylan S. Roberts-Cornier and Asela C. Roberts-Cornier both of Mississippi. Luis also has a large extended family, well established in the continental U.S. as well as on the island of Puerto Rico.
“Guiso” was preceded in death by his parents, his four brothers, and his eldest daughter, Agnes Tamara Cornier-Rivera.
Luis Cornier-Maldonado, a true and faithful servant of the Lord has been called Home.
Visiting hours will be held on Friday, March 14th from 4-8 PM in the Saunders-Dwyer Home For Funerals, 495 Park Street, New Bedford. His Funeral Service will be held at the Calvary Pentecostal Church, 33 Braley Rd., East Freetown on Saturday, March 15th at 10 AM.