JAY — Former Selectperson Keith Cornelio was remembered Monday for his sense of humor, integrity and community service.
 
Cornelio, 75, died Saturday at a Lewiston hospital surrounded by family.
 
Select Board Chairman Terry Bergeron passed along the board’s condolences to Cornelio’s family at Monday night’s board meeting.
 
Cornelio was in the audience at the Nov. 12 board meeting.
 
He was elected in 2016 as a selectperson but lost his bid for re-election for another term in April. 
 
He started serving on the town’s Recreation Committee when he was elected to the select board two years ago and continued to serve on it, Town Manager Shiloh LaFreniere said Monday.
 
He had been working with the committee, most recently making plans 
for the February 2019 winter festival that he participated in the past several years, she said.
 
Cornelio was involved in many work days, Earth Days and summer Music in the Park concerts with the committee and was willing to lend a hand and get involved, she said.
 
“I really appreciated his integrity,” LaFreniere said. “He had a great sense of humor.”
 
Selectpersons appointed Cornelio to the town’s Budget Committee in May. 
 
He was a Planning Board member for 10 months prior to being elected as a selectperson and previously served on the board from about 1983 to 1986, according to Town Clerk Ronda Palmer.
 
Cornelio spent 44 years working at the Androscoggin Mill in Jay, where he served as the president of Local 247 of the International Brotherhood of Firemen and Oilers Union before retiring as power plant team leader in 2011.
 
 dperry@sunmediagroup.net
 

Keith Cornelio (Sun Journal file photo)

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