Marcelo Cornicello, local Hispanic leader, dies at 46

When Hispanic community leader Tanya Gonzalez started receiving complaints about the condition of some units at an apartment complex in Richmond about six years ago, she called Marcelo Cornicello.

Within 30 minutes, he and his wife arrived at the apartments.

"He was going around, talking to management about the inhumane conditions of the apartments," she said.

Those who knew him say Mr. Cornicello was a fierce fighter against poor treatment of Hispanics and a man of action -- yet kind and with a great sense of humor.

"He was just a strength in the community," Gonzalez said, "someone who always stood for what he believed in, even if it wasn't a popular view. But he had a kind heart."

Mr. Cornicello, who lived in Chesterfield County, died Friday after a long fight with kidney failure. He was 46.

Mr. Cornicello arrived in Richmond with his parents from Argentina in 1982 at age 18 to receive a kidney transplant; his mother was the donor. His body rejected that kidney and a second one in 1985, and he continued with dialysis treatment all his life.

"He used to joke that his goal was to live as long as Jesus Christ," said his wife, Barbara Cornicello. "He made it past that."

Because of his frail health, he felt an urgency to get things done, and that made him impatient sometimes, his wife said.

"He had an ambition to get things done," she recalled.

Mr. Cornicello started a cleaning service, and he later owned Cornicello's Deli on Midlothian Turnpike until 2002. His deli was a place where many Hispanics came for help with their problems.

The small restaurant became like an office for the now-defunct Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Central Virginia, which he co-founded and led during its four-year run.

Mr. Cornicello also served as the president of the American International Soccer League.

"He always had a project going in his mind to reach the Hispanic community," said Juan Santacoloma, Hispanic Liaison for Chesterfield County. "He was always saying, 'I want to do this, I want to do radio [and] television. I want to start a chamber.'"

Mr. Cornicello and his wife started The Hispanic Voice magazine; he took the pictures and she wrote stories and edited the glossy monthly publication. They ran the publication for several years until Mr. Cornicello's health deteriorated in the last few years. Both also had a Spanish rock radio show for several years at Richmond Independent Radio and Spanish-language station Selecta 1320.

David James, a Goochland County resident who records Richmond history on video, captured Mr. Cornicello on tape while he was on the podium during an immigration rally at Richmond's Monroe Park in 2006.

"He was a pretty flowery guy and a tough guy," he said.

He also recorded an award ceremony where Richmond government officials recognized Mr. Cornicello for his work in establishing the Richmond Hispanic Liaison Office.

"That's what he was most proud of, trying to find something that would serve all communities," Barbara Cornicello said.

Despite his illnesses, Mr. Cornicello was always in good spirits and carried a smile on his lips, Santacoloma said.

"He always had a spark of mischief in his eyes," he said. "Latinos have lost a great person."

In addition to his wife, Mr. Cornicello is survived by his sons, Christopher, Marco and Antony, all of Chesterfield; his father, Giovanni Cornicello of Chesterfield; and two brothers in Argentina.

Funeral arrangements have not been finalized.

Contact Juan Antonio Lizama at (804) 649-6513 or .