Terry Cornell, Sr.

1937 - 2015

(News story) Terry Cornell, Sr., a developer primarily of Toledo area apartment complexes, died Sunday in Waterford at Levis Commons, Perrysburg. He was 78.

He had Alzheimer's disease, one of his sons, Terry Cornell, Jr., said.

Mr. Cornell, who lived in South Toledo, started businesses, most notably Oak Hill Investment LLC, to oversee his developments.

OBJECTMany of his apartment complexes, starting in the 1970s, have gone by the name "Oak Hill."

Several of his children manage the businesses. He stepped away more than a decade ago, content to farm land he owned in Ottawa County and duck hunt at his nearby marsh.

He learned the building business as a young man by working for Henry J. "Jerry" Sawicki, Jr., the late real estate developer, before striking out on his own. Years later, Mr. Cornell and Mr. Sawicki owned and rehabilitated the Lonz Winery on Middle Bass Island before selling it in 1980.

Mr. Cornell at first built houses. He later developed office buildings, some commercial projects, and Pier 75, a Maumee River marina south of DiSalle Bridge.

Apartments were his mainstay and "propelled him more than anything to be as successful as he was," another one of his sons, Jim Cornell, said.

The apartments were "for the average person, clean places reasonable priced," he said. "As long as he could provide that, he could keep them full and make money."

His father's proposals on occasion generated controversy and headlines.

An apartment complex and expansion on Glendale Avenue in the mid-1970s sparked a public rebellion by city plan commission staff against the planning director and a rebuke by plan commission members against City Council.

"He was a driven man and wasn't afraid to take risks, and when he wanted to do something, he gave it his all to get it done," Terry, Jr., said.

Added Jim: "He was a very charismatic person. He had a very convincing personality."

A boater himself, Mr. Cornell in 1973 was chairman of hydroplane races on the Maumee River at Walbridge Park.

He was born Feb. 25, 1937, in Fremont. He attended Ross High School in Fremont.

He was formerly married to Mary Cornell.

Surviving are sons Chris, Terry, Jr., John, Jim, and Kevin; daughter, Heather Schuster; 13 grandchildren, and a great-granddaughter.

Visitation will be from 2-7 p.m. today in the Coyle Funeral Home, with a prayer service at 6:30 p.m.

This is a news story by Mark Zaborney. Contact him at mzaborney@theblade.com or 419-724-6182.