Eric William Cornell

Eric William Cornell was born in 1984 to Ray and Margaret Cornell. A couple of years later, his sister Rebecca was born. His family lived in Texas until he started 4th grade. The family attended the Webb Chapel Church of Christ where he participated in Leadership Training for Christ. Then they moved to Colorado Springs.

Eric took piano lessons, art lessons, was a Cub Scout, and a Boy Scout for one year. The family attended Mountain View Church of Christ where he was involved in the many youth activities. He was extremely interested in computers. He and his friends spent many hours learning (on their own) how to use, program, and build computers. During high school, he also worked for MCI as a telemarketer, earning more than a high schooler should.

After high school graduation, Eric was quick to be independent and lived with various friends for a few years. When he grew “tired of being poor,” as he said, he decided to enroll at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. He felt he knew enough about computers, but he wanted to “learn new things,” so he chose physics as his major.

After college, he got a job with Innoven Energy doing IT work for them. Soon, they realized he understood physics and he became their Head of Target Investigations. He continued to work for them until his passing.

While working for Innoven, he associated with some well-known people in the field of energy and lasers, including nuclear scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory and researchers at various physics labs around the country. He attended multiple Anomalous Absorption Conferences, and others. He even met a physics Nobel Prize winner!

He enjoyed cars and eventually had 3 BMWs and a Porsche 944 – none of them from this century, and he spent many hours working on and repairing them! His favorite car was a modified black 1986 BMW which he took to PPIR at least once to try out his racing chops.

He enjoyed gaming and eventually set up a VR room in his house.

Eric convinced Innoven to send him on his first trip to Italy. Later, he took 2 vacations to Europe that included Italy again, as well as The Netherlands, Germany, Austria, and Portugal.

He stayed connected to friends from high school and to the many that he met along the way.

Months before his death, he instigated a family trip to Seattle – the first his family had taken together in 20 years. This will always be a wonderful memory.

Eric battled bravely for 25 days in the hospital before passing away in January 2026 at the age of 41 with loved ones at his side.