James J. Cornelio

BRUNSWICK – It is with deep love and sadness that we announce the passing of James J. Cornelio, 86, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and dear friend, who left us on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025. He was born on Dec. 20, 1938, in Jay, a son of Bernadino and Alice Cornelio. Jim attended Jay schools where he met the love of his life, Paula Virgin. They were married at Riley Church on July 23, 1960. After high school, he attended Farmington State Teachers College and began his 32-year teaching career at Bath Junior High.

Jim and Paula settled in Brunswick and began their small family which included their three daughters. He was a true family man planning many summer camping trips including a driving trip across the country and family vacation to Disney World. He loved sports, playing basketball, baseball, and football in high school and college. He completed his masters education studies at Michigan State University in 1969. His teaching and coaching career spanned between Bath and Brunswick, culminating in his dream coaching job as the Varsity Basketball coach of the Brunswick High School Dragons. Jim loved all forms of teaching and coaching. His students often recognized him with fond admiration. One of his hospice nurses even mentioned that he was her favorite teacher.

After Jim retired from teaching in 1995, he and Paula kept themselves busy as avid golfers. Jim and Paula were snowbirds, traveling in the fall to Spring Hill, Florida, returning to Maine for the summers. They made many good friends and memories in both places.

Jim was predeceased by his loving wife Paula of 60 years, his parents, his brothers, Louis, Peter, and John, his sisters, Mary, Millie, Rose, and Angie and his son-in-law Michael Newton. He is survived by his daughters, Catherine Reed and husband William of Bowdoinham, Charlene Newton of Bowdoin and Pamela Smith of Brunswick, as well as his siblings, Dolly Oakes, Thomas Cornelio and Gloria Tardif and her husband Richard; 10 grandchildren, Kara Talton, Morgan Hahn, Kelsey Reed, William Reed, Charles Rothbacher, Kaitlyn Reed, Kadie Smith, Mitchell Smith, Rachael Smith and Angelina Smith; and 11 great-grandchildren.

A funeral mass will be at 11 a.m., on Tuesday, November 18, at St. Charles Borromeo Church, 132 McKeen Street, Brunswick, ME 04011. A reception will follow the mass in the church hall.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Prostate Cancer Foundation

at pcf.org.