Craig Laurence Cordell

Craig Laurence Cordell, 66, passed away quietly in his sleep at his home in Yellow Springs, Ohio on April 4, 2024. He was the youngest of seven children of Carl and Janice Cordell, with two older brothers, Carl Jr. (Polly); and Gary, and 4 older sisters, Paula (Steve), Karen, Carla, and Judy. The Cordell family has lived in the Yellow Springs area for over four generations.

Like a lot of folks who grew up in the Springs, Craig spent a good bit of his life traveling. He was a world-ranked tennis player and as a teen was a well-known competitor throughout Miami Valley. After graduating high school in 1976, he found a sponsor and left the Village to try his luck on the competitive pro circuit. Playing throughout Europe and Africa he had many life-changing experiences including witnessing the apartheid system when he played in South Africa. While in Europe during a practice match with Bjorn Borg, he got wiped all over the court, but he was thrilled to play with him anyway. The family never tired of watching the video of Craig chasing that ball return from Bjorn, grinning all the while.

Craig became a teaching pro at clubs in Spain and Germany for a few years, before deciding to return to the States. He then followed his brother Gary out west, eventually living in the Bay Area in California working as an event technologist for several years. There he met his wife Ruth, from Bogota, Columbia to whom he has been married for 20 years. Craig enjoyed fishing in his kayak and the quiet life of small-town Ohio.

Besides his wife, Ruth, Craig leaves behind a daughter, Julia Weghaus Cordell; her partner, Paulo; and two grandsons, Mio and Tilo, along with many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Craig is preceded in death by his parents and sister, Karen.

No services are planned at this time.