Edward Richard Cornachio passed peacefully with family on August 26, 2024, at home in Edmonds at age 94. Born August 16, 1930, in New York City, to Mary and Edward Cornachio.
Ed grew up in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Long Island before attending La Salle Military Academy. Ed joined the Air Force in 1951 and worked in intelligence during the Korean War. After the war he attended ArtCenter in Los Angeles and married the love of his life, Kathleen Conrad of Rochester, NY, in 1960. Ed was the inaugural Director of Photography for the Los Angeles County Museum of Art before retiring to Sandpoint, ID in 1983. He later lived in Coeur d'Alene, ID, Whidbey Island, WA, and Edmonds, WA.
Ed was a photographer, actor, artist, woodworker, and art collector. His hobbies were many and varied, including sailing, soaring, fly fishing, cycling, and magic. Over his lifetime he also enjoyed golf, tennis, shooting, chess, billiards, pétanque, puzzles, writing, cooking, and playing harmonica and bongos. Ed will be remembered by family and friends for his charm, intelligence, wit, and his incredible homemade bread.
Ed was preceded in death in 1996 by his wife Kathy. He is survived by his two daughters, Andrea Selser and Laurel Hendrix; his son-in-law, Don Hendrix; his granddaughters, Alicia Hendrix and Erin Kinnear; his grandson-in-law, Jon Kinnear; and his great-granddaughter, Cadence Kinnear. Ed is also survived by beloved nieces, cousins, and other relatives across the country.
A private memorial will be held in November.
Memorial donations may be made to Whidbey Island Center for the Arts , Pend Oreille Arts Council , or Evergreen Hospice.