Rita Ann Cornyn

Rita Ann Cornyn was not the type of woman to sit still or conform to expectations. From the moment she defied her father's wishes by choosing Montclair State over a Catholic college, Rita charted her own extraordinary path through life—a journey marked by adventure, passion, and an insatiable appetite for learning. Notably, Rita founded the Newman Club, a Catholic campus ministry while at Montclair State, and 70+ years since its founding, the Newman Catholic Center continues to be a vibrant and active ministry at the University.

Born in New Jersey in 1930, Rita was a trailblazer from the start. To fund her education, she worked summers at the telephone company and as a waitress at the Warren Hotel in Spring Lake, NJ, proving early on that she was willing to roll up her sleeves and do whatever it took to pursue her dreams. Her restlessness led her from teaching in California to flying the skies with American Airlines, and even taking summer flight attendant shifts in Okinawa—because why not?

Education was more than a career for Rita; it was a calling. She didn't just teach; she transformed educational experiences. She earned a master's from Columbia University, worked as an educational consultant, and later became a Montessori educator—even opening her own preschool in Dublin. Rita became owner and director of Sunshine PreSchool in 1977. Founded in 1945 and respected throughout Los Angeles, Rita celebrated Sunshine’s 75th anniversary in 2020. Her professional life was a testament to her belief that learning should be an adventure; she aimed to instill a love of learning in every student.

Travel was her oxygen. Rita explored the world with a fearlessness that would put most global adventurers to shame. From Jungian seminars in Switzerland to writing workshops in County Kerry, from skiing in Lake Placid, pilgrimages to Lourdes, Fatima, and Medjugorje, to journeys through Peru, Kenya, and China, and family visits to New York and Paris, she approached each destination with the curiosity of a scholar and the excitement of an explorer.

Her spiritual life was equally rich and dynamic. Rita was deeply engaged in her faith, serving as a Eucharistic Minister and Bereavement Counselor, hosting prayer meetings in her home, and connecting with spiritual communities. She was a member of the Association of Christian Therapists and CFO (Camp Farthest Out), serving in leadership roles and bridging psychological and spiritual understanding.

But perhaps Rita's most profound legacy was her ability to create community. Her home was a gathering place, her holiday dinners legendary—bringing together friends, family, and anyone who needed a place to belong. She threw parties that lasted until the early morning, filled with stories, music, and the warmth of human connection.

Rita passed away on November 8, 2020, in Brentwood, surrounded by her loving family. She left behind not just her children and grandchildren but a network of lives she had touched, inspired, and transformed. She was a teacher in the truest sense—not just in classrooms, but in life.

In a world that often tries to limit people, Rita Cornyn was a reminder that curiosity has no age, that learning never stops, and that a life well-lived is an art of continuous exploration.

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Rita is survived by daughters Erin Cornyn McHarris (Bob), Alison Cornyn (Gilles Peress), son John Cornyn, sister Alice Beirne (Carlos), brother John Beirne (Barbara), sister-in-law Dianne Beirne, grandchildren Rita and Thelma Peress, former husband Joe Cornyn and his wife Jean, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Due to Covid, a small Mass was held at St. Martin of Tour’s Parish. The graveside interment at Holy Cross was held with immediate family. Contributions in Rita’s honor may be made to the Sunshine PreSchool scholarship fund or Sunshine’s sister school in downtown Los Angeles, Proyecto Pastoral.