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Home Featured Story

Hillsboro Revered Citizen Sharon Cornish Passes

Tough Words And Community Leaderhip Gained Her Many Fans

Dirk KnudsenbyDirk Knudsen
November 14, 2022
in Featured Story, Our Town, Outstanding People
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Hillsboro Revered Citizen Sharon Cornish Passes
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Editors Update:  The memorial for Sharon Cornish of Hillsboro, Oregon, was 11/12/2022 and was wonderful.  The Video shown during the event is inserted below for you to watch.  If you read this story, please share it and leave a comment at the bottom.  Thank you! 


Last Thursday (11/3/2022), I was enjoying a glass of wine in the upstairs bar at The Venetian, trying to unwind from a crazy week.  The live music featuring jazz giant Laura Cunard was just what the doctor ordered.  Some good friends were in the room, and we had a chance to catch up.  During that conversation, I was given the bittersweet news that a highly respected leader and vocal voice of our Hillsboro community, a local giant, had passed away.

I still remember the first time I came into her atmosphere.  It was sometime in the 1980s, and there was a land use hearing at the City of Hillsboro.  I have no memory of what the hearing was about, but I will never forget hearing that booming voice coming from the table near the podium, asking questions on the matter.  The tone and piercing clarity was delivered in such a way that everyone in the room was sure that the woman wielding it was the ultimate authority on the subject at hand.  When the questions lacked intelligent answers, or if an answer lacked clarity or compliance with the codes, her response was swift.  It often cut through the typical BS and just splayed the issues bare for all to see.  That was the day I met an incredibly strong and passionate woman.  Her name was Sharon Cornish.

Many of you may have known her or seen her in action.  She rarely missed a City Council meeting here in Hillsboro, a town she moved to in 1965 with her husband and kids. She was also a regular at the Washington County planning meetings and court proceedings.  She had a keen interest in what was being agreed to and made into law. To the extent that something could be changed or approved that could, in her opinion, harm her or anyone, she was going to stop it if she could. If not, her brand of opposition and disapproval would be felt.  And it often was.

Her Daughter Annette Cornish remembers her mom fondly.

“She & Dad moved to Hillsboro about 1965 when I was 4. She wanted out of Southern California. Dad worked for Goodyear Tire & Rubber and transferred from their LA office to their Portland office. They bought the property on Evergreen Road in about 1967 and built a home. Their land was WAY out in the country in 1967,” offered Annette.

Sharon was 87 and almost made it to 88.  She lived on the 5-acre parcel and the house she and her husband built all those decades ago, North of Hillsboro.  She planned to pass away on her farm, and with Annette’s help, she made that happen excepting the final few days.

Sharon’s High School Graduation Photo – Covina, California

Annette expanded on this and gave us some additional testimony about her Mom, who was far beyond someone who just stood up at council meetings.

Her father, Orlyn, was the first Mayor of a town called Pico Rivera, in Southern California. I think that is where mom gleaned her interest in politics and community involvement. She always researched things well and was never intimidated to talk with anyone, no matter their fancy titles or status. Whether one agreed with her position on any given topic, or not, they had to admire her for being involved, engaged and passionate about her community and it’s people. For many, many years she never missed a City Council meeting. She also attended many of the County Council meetings. And, while her own two kids were attending school, she was very involved in the curriculum and their school events. She was a school bus driver for Hillsboro School District for years, then started her own business of interior painting, wallpapering, sprucing up people’s homes and landscaping. She bought and refurbished old houses and started her own small home rental business. She was a 4H co-leader of a large equestrian group called “The Evergreen Riders.” They took several first place trophies in the Hillsboro July 4th parade. She lived her faith by helping people who were in difficult places in their lives. She often would help people, for example; buy beds for their kids, groceries, clothing, pay their rent to avoid eviction. She gave her time often to counsel many people going through personal problems, who didn’t have their own family to turn to. I learned at a young age, I had to “share” my mom, as many others called her their “mom,” too. We often had extra people at our Thanksgiving dinner table who she found in the community who had no where to go for Thanksgiving.

In this 2009 Oregonian Article, we see Sharon, in her own words, describe that her childhood of orange groves and farms was destroyed by developers and the government.  She expressed most clearly in that story:

“I’ve seen everything I love destroyed,” she said. “Any time I’ve ever felt comfortable or really happy where I live, I know it won’t last. The government always wins because they can tax you out.” (Read the rest right here: https://www.oregonlive.com/washingtoncounty/2009/12/sharon_cornish.html)

 

To illustrate how far her involvement went, a local judge told me that Sharon came to a very complex trial that was being handled quite a while back.  A woman that Sharon was helping, and all of her kids (58 in total), were involved in family court and custodial matters.  At every break in the Court sessions, Sharon would approach the Judge and tell her the positive things that she had done and call her out on the things that were not done correctly and would tell her why. Sharon researched the laws and regulations before she ever entered that courtroom.  What a rare thing this is, especially these days.

Her daughter shared one more example of her Mother’s community work:

When the rose garden (Harold Eastman Rose Garden) at Jaskson School Road & Grant was larger, several times in the peak of the hot summer she single-handedly pruned every rose bush in the garden. It took her hours each time, but she loved that garden. She gave the City “heck” when she learned about their plans to change it. She was a member of the Tualatin Valley Rose Garden.

Sharon will be missed.  People like her are too rare these days.  No one wants to stand toe to toe with government officials and fight for those who can not or do not know what is happening.  But it is imperative that we have folks like Sharon because if we do not, we are most certainly doomed.  Investigative and community journalism is all but dead.  No one is watching the shop anymore.  And I guess you can say that Sharon and I share an awful lot in common in our beliefs.  I was lucky enough to see her in action many times and meet with her several as well.  She was something to behold, and I will miss her and remember her.  So many of us will.


To remember Sharon and pay tribute come to:

Fir Lawn Memorial Chapel

1070 West Main Hillsboro

Saturday, November 12th @ 1:00 PM

Graveside prayer following

 

 

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Comments 36

  1. Janet Young & Al Young says:
    5 months ago

    Thank you for sharing the obituary. Have known for so long but so much more to know.

    Reply
    • Annette Cornish says:
      5 months ago

      Thank you, Mr. & Mrs. Young ❤️

      Reply
      • Jeff+jNelson says:
        5 months ago

        Annette – God Bless your Mother – she was truly a force to be reckoned with and she was so good about setting the City folks straight when they would tend to veer ….. which was often. We enjoyed when she’d stop in Le’Stuff Antiques and I always appreciated her willingness to stand up when others would not. I’m honored by the fact the some folks around town have compared me to your Mom – because I too believe the City leaders have strayed so far towards Portland that it’s sad – although she was better at it than I will ever be. She’ll be remembered as a strong & caring woman that did a lot of good along the way.

        Reply
        • Annette Cornish says:
          5 months ago

          Thank you, Jeff. Nice to see you tonight. ❤️

          Reply
  2. Mike Balanesi says:
    5 months ago

    What a great tribute to our friend Sharon. My wife and I nicknamed her “The Gardener”. We would see her, stop and say hello on 3rd Ave, as she was taking meticulous care of her rental properties. She was proud of them, but ever mindful, telling us of her fears of losing them one day to the city because of urban renewal projects.

    Sharon was indeed an “incredibly strong and passionate woman”, a warrior with unquestionable integrity. She always did her homework before appearing in front of public hearings or in a one on one meeting. Sharon was relentless on issues that affected us all, locally as well as statewide.

    I joined Sharon in Salem on many occasions to testify before legislative committees. One memorable hearing was before Oregon’s current Governor who was then the chairwoman of the Senate Rules Committee. The hearing was about Oregon election laws which had been compromised. Sharon was rudely treated by Kate Brown, who had to know that Sharon had forgotten more than she would ever know about election law.

    On another occasion Sharon was instrumental in assisting us in a case of electioneering against the Hillsboro School District Administration, which included Hillsboro’s current Mayor. The administration was found by the State of Oregon to have violated election law by using taxpayer time and money to promote a school bond issue. The administration was sanctioned and fined.

    Several years later, Sharon came to me to point out that the school district was again electioneering on a bond levy and we decided to approach the administration at a school board meeting. The Superintendent ridiculed us and sent us out saying “Bring it on”. We did! Sharon was right and our case was again upheld by the Oregon Secretary of State. The Superintendent and others were again sanctioned and fined.

    We attended many Circuit Court Sessions involving the prosecutions of illegal driver’s licenses being issued in Washington County.

    Our last collaboration was when the City of Hillsboro was about to convert downtown streets from one-way to two-way. Although lead by others, it was Sharon’s testimonies that buttressed the case, which ultimately prevailed in keeping the streets as one-way.

    Unfortunately we both encountered health issues that prevented us from working on upholding the wishes of former Mayor Shirley Huffman who did not want NE Jackson School Rd made into what it is today. Shirley lived on NE Jackson School Rd. and 6th Ave. and voiced her wishes to Sharon and me personally.

    I was always comfortable supporting Sharon in her work to question and suggest better ways of managing government policies. Her knowledge of issues was without question, her tenacity was tireless, but most of all Sharon’s integrity was supreme!

    We will miss Sharon Cornish, but always be proud to have known her, work with her, and be blessed by her service to the State and local community.

    Reply
    • Annette Cornish says:
      5 months ago

      Thank you, Mike ❤️

      Reply
    • JeffreyJw Nelson says:
      5 months ago

      Mike, thanks for your wonderful comments about Sharon – even though we didn’t always see things the same way – I always applaud those that stand up against some of the BS stuff the city leaders push through without regard to the multitudes of us that disagree with what they’re doing. They always ask for citizens opionions, but how often do they pay any attention to what we have to say? You Know The Answer My Friend!

      Reply
      • Dirk Knudsen says:
        5 months ago

        Sharon was a beacon – at times rough around the edges- but people do not know how to take criticism and understand it is not coming from hate. We are not wrong when we speak- there are fundamental facts about things being done. We are not imagining the fact that we have an alley behind us that is an alley but was technically changed with no notice to a “potential alley,” and now we are made to feel like we did something wrong and denied our rights. The city DID, in fact, rezone people who begged NOT to be rezoned to Industrial, and the people are suffering and afraid now. We are NOT imagining that Jackson School Road was widened to a commercial standard despite many saying, “Don’t.” And we are not imagining that the City gave the Westhills developer 1 Million dollars in grant money to put a rooftop deck on the old bank while at the same time not offering anything near that to existing owners who have slugged it out downtown for decades. The list goes on and on, and it is not something we are imagining. Sharon didn’t care what they thought – and she did not filter her comments with the hopes that she might need something from them. Sharon knew that a Public servant was there to serve – not to mandate from on high. And those kinds of beliefs are not commonly held anymore because people forget who works for who. So we have much to relearn and remember.

        Reply
        • Annette Cornish says:
          5 months ago

          Thank you, Dirk. ❤️

          Reply
  3. Sandy Cooprider says:
    5 months ago

    A very beautiful tribute!❤️

    Reply
    • Annette Cornish says:
      5 months ago

      Indeed. ❤️

      Reply
  4. Orlyn L Culp II says:
    5 months ago

    Aunt Sharon was a wonderful woman. She was supportive of me in my younger-life challenges. She always made my wife and I feel like family. She was an awesome “grandma” to our four kids when we had the opportunity to visit her or when she’d visit our area.

    She was an incredible woman of Faith in Jesus Christ as her LORD and Savior, and I’m sure she’s enjoying being in His presence today.

    Orlyn L. Culp II

    Reply
    • Annette Cornish says:
      5 months ago

      Thank you, Orlyn ❤️

      Reply
  5. Pamela Wolfenbarger says:
    5 months ago

    Aunt Sharon always stood up for what she believed. She was such a strong example of a woman and she will be greatly missed. Love and {{{{{HUGS}}}}} Annette, Jeff and family. Holding you all close to my heart.

    Reply
    • Annette Cornish says:
      5 months ago

      Thank you, Pam ❤️

      Reply
  6. Daniel Glidden says:
    5 months ago

    My aunt was not a force to be crossed. Such a powerful spirit with a very gentle hand. She will be missed and remembered for a life well lived.

    Reply
    • Annette Cornish says:
      5 months ago

      Thank you, Daniel ❤️

      Reply
  7. Richard Moellmer says:
    5 months ago

    For those of you who do not know Sharon – and I don’t claim to know her well – she was a force of nature: A strong and driven woman with striking long white hair, beautiful smile and bright eyes. Sharon was always active in her community and a champion for various good government causes. Over the years there have been more than a few local government leaders (including judges) who found themselves in her cross-hairs when she was advocating for change and justice in Hillsboro and Washington County. Sharon drove a Hillsboro school bus for many years. She owns and managed several Hillsboro rental properties and was quietly generous to her tenants when they needed a hand up. She was tough as nails, loyal, passionate, warm and opinionated. The apple does not fall too far from the tree: Annette. Sharon’s property just north of Evergreen is where Annette grew up and has boarded many animals, including horses, miniature horses, goats, chickens, dogs and cats. My children visited Sharon and Annette’s “petting zoo” when they were young, and once rode in carts pulled behind those miniature horses in a Hillsboro 4th of July Parade. Sharon lived a long and full life, made a positive difference, raised our friend Annette, and she will be missed.

    Reply
    • Annette Cornish says:
      5 months ago

      Thank you, Richard ❤️

      Reply
  8. Jenny Burch says:
    5 months ago

    Jeff, Annette and family,
    I have always loved and admired Aunt Sharon! She had a “can do” attitude and was never afraid to try anything, no matter how difficult it seemed. I loved her courage and willingness to speak up for what she believed in, from her faith in Jesus, to her boldness in speaking up for her community.
    When she would visit Grandma, she would come to our home to visit us too. It was such fun watching Aunt Sharon and my Dad tease one another and bantering back in forth. My kids always loved her fun stories and kindness to them. Each year they loved getting her Christmas card with gum!
    Today, she is with her Savior, Jesus!

    Reply
    • Annette Cornish says:
      5 months ago

      Thank you, Jenny. ❤️

      Reply
  9. Julie MacFarlane says:
    5 months ago

    Condolence Annette!

    Reply
  10. Julie MacFarlane says:
    5 months ago

    Condolence & prayers for you, Annette. 🙏

    Reply
    • Annette Cornish says:
      5 months ago

      Thank you, Julie ❤️

      Reply
  11. Kathleen Juenemann says:
    5 months ago

    We talked a lot many years ago, and at times I thought about her and wondered where she was today. Our lives went separate ways and I was occupied with my church music. I knew her as a spiritual person, as well as quite knowledgeable and pleasant. Kathy Juenemann

    Reply
    • Annette Cornish says:
      5 months ago

      Thank you, Kathleen ❤️

      Reply
  12. Kathleen Juenemann says:
    5 months ago

    I talked with Sharon frequently many years ago, and we somehow drifted to separate ways; I kept busy with church music. She was spiritual and very knowledgeable, easy on the ears. I had thought of her at times and wondered whether she was still around. Such courage, a rarity today.
    Kathy Juenemann

    Reply
    • Annette Cornish says:
      5 months ago

      ❤️❤️

      Reply
  13. Peggy LeClair says:
    5 months ago

    I remember you and your mom from Sonrise Church several years ago. I always admired her strength of faith and service. I’m so sorry to hear of her passing and send prayers to you and your family.

    Reply
    • Annette Cornish says:
      5 months ago

      Thank you, Peggy ❤️

      Reply
  14. Jean Anne and Bert Zimmerly says:
    5 months ago

    Sorry about your loss, what a full and interesting life your mom lived. Only learned about her service today. Hugs

    Reply
    • Annette Cornish says:
      5 months ago

      Thank you Mr. and Mrs. Zimmerly. ❤️

      Reply
  15. Addy Hesse says:
    5 months ago

    Our community lost a remarkable woman. Interesting, intelligent and caring beyond measure. Our family had the joy of working with Sharon for the benefit of 4-H, especially during the annual county fair. She also worked tirelessly in the Fair Boosters concession stand, always make sure the booth was spotless so it could pass health inspections.

    Sharon cared passionately about fairness in government regulations, quality of the environment and preservation of our historical community (legacy.)

    Annette, Jeff, Monica and grandchildren, your dear mom was incredibly proud of each one you and worked hard and lived frugally to leave you a financial estate and a lifetime of love/memories. I cherished her friendship, honesty and her unending encouragement. I’m so sorry for your loss and send heartfelt condolences 💐.

    Reply
    • Annette Cornish says:
      5 months ago

      Thank you, Addy, so much. ❤️

      Reply
  16. Coleen and Phil Bobzien says:
    4 months ago

    Annette and I met in 3rd grade. Throughout the years we have drifted in and out of each others lives. When Sharon heard I was getting married she knew I would need help with our wedding. She did the flowers and all the decorations for the church and organized the food and cleanup. I still don’t know where all the food came from! Given the article above I don’t know how she had the time to help. I will be forever grateful to her.

    Reply
    • Annette Cornish says:
      4 months ago

      Thank you, Coleen & Phil. ❤️

      Reply

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