Clarence "Clancy" Cornell

1930 - 2015

Cornell, Clarence "Clancy"Clarence "Clancy" Carl Cornell passed away on August 15th, surrounded by family at his home in Clermont, Florida. Clancy was born in Faribault, Minnesota, to Augusta and Maxime Cornell, and was raised by his sister Alice and brother-in-law Orville Birnstihl after his parents passed away. He graduated from Fremont (Nebraska) High School in the class of 1948. He married Norma (Satree) Cornell in 1950, and they raised their four children in Nebraska and Faribault before moving to Clermont in 1974. Clancy first fell in love with buses when his feet could barely touch the pedals. He purchased his first bus company in Boone, Iowa, in 1950, and went on to buy the Faribault Bus Company from his brother, Eddie, in 1957. Norma and Clancy built the business on a foundation of customer service, while their kids grew up cleaning buses, counting change and sweeping the garage floor. Together with sons Ron and Dane, Clancy grew that business into the enterprise of ABC Companies, a multi-location, international distributor and leader in the luxury motorcoach industry. The company continues to grow, and the third generation of the Cornell family has joined the leadership team. He always treated customers and employees like family. In addition to his leadership in the bus industry, Clancy's legacy includes charitable work. His foremost charity, the Clarence Cornell School of Business at The Bus and Motorcoach Academy is a partnership between UMA and the College of Southern Maryland offering accredited coursework to support industry professionals in their day-to-day business operations. Additionally, Clancy served as Chairman Emeritus at ABC Companies, and was a board member for The Museum of Bus Transportation in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Clancy has also been a past recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Georgia Motorcoach Operators Associations. Clancy was married to his love MaryAnn (Haack) for 25 years, and they lived in both Minnesota and Florida while raising daughter, Jennifer. They loved traveling around the world together and with family, touring the country in their motorhome, designing and overseeing the building of their homes, fishing, gardening, and last but not least, their cherished Dachshunds. Clancy also loved good cigars, and beating his friends in Texas Hold 'Em. Clancy was preceded in death by his parents, brother Eddie and his wife Ann Cornell, sister Alice and Orville Birnstihl, Norma Cornell, Cathy Paolucci Cornell, wife MaryAnn Cornell, and son Ron Cornell. Clancy is survived by his daughters Deb Cornell (Pat Stanton), Roxanne Cornell (Jen Polzin), and Jennifer (Kyle) Schmidt; son Dane (Judy) Cornell; grandchildren Kerry Berken, Angie Cornell, Angie Stanton, Roman (Michelle) Cornell, Ryhan (Jay) Hanna, Ashley (Andy) James, Ellex Schmidt, Katon Schmidt, Lucas Cornell; ten great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews and extended family members, as well as countless dear friends. The family would also like to thank Rose Peart, Dace Rodriguez, Sue James and Linda Peterson for providing such tender and attentive care to Clancy. Open to all, A Celebration of His Life will take place at Real Life Church (1501 Steve's Road, Clermont) 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 20th with visitation one (1) hour prior. Private family interment. Friends and guests can go from the church to ABC Companies, 17469 West Colonial Drive, Winter Garden, FL 34787, for a reception celebrating Clancy's life. Memorials preferred to Compassionate Care Hospice, 214 East Washington Street, Suite C, Minneola, FL 34715. Becker Funeral Home of Clermont is serving the family. www.beckerfamilyfuneral.com