by Scott Mac Kay
News Editor
Approximately 300 people attended a memorial service for Cornelia “Corni” Ortmayer on Aug. 24 in ULV’s Ortmayer Stadium. The University of La Verne and the community of La Verne lost a dear friend and family member when Ortmayer died on July 8.
Ortmayer was an honorary alumna of the University and wife of longtime La Verne football coach Roland “Ort” Ortmayer.
In her 45 years with La Verne, Ortmayer was a “dorm mom” to the residents of Woody Hall, seamstress for the football team and ran “Corni’s Corner” where she sold snacks during football games.
The Ortmayers were famous for their wilderness trips they conducted for more than 40 years for students and faculty. They also planned annual trips to rivers in California and Montana.
Professionally, Ortmayer was an elementary school teacher and taught in the Bonita Unified School District for 35 years. She also served with several organization including American Association of University Women, Delta Kappa Gamma sorority, and McKinley Children’s Home and the Cooperative Disaster Child Care.
A resident of La Verne, Ortmayer is survived by Roland, her husband of 53 years; brother Tom Burgan of West Palm Beach, Fla.; daughters Mary Susan Bowles of Belgrade, Mont., and Corlan Rachel Harrison of Upland, Calif.; granddaughters Stacy, 15; Erica, 12; Kari Bowles, 8, of Belgrade; and son-in-law Steve Bowles and Robert Harrison.
Contributions may be made to the David and Cornelia Ortmayer Scholarship Fund at the University of La Verne.
