Richard "Ric" Cornejo (also known as Ricky Ricky), age 63, of Munster, IN, passed away peacefully on Friday, February 6, 2026 surrounded by his loving family. He was born on July 25, 1962, in East Chicago, Indiana to Mary A. (Orozco) Cornejo and Emil F. Cornejo, Sr.

A proud graduate of Griffith High School, Ric went on to pursue a career in the restaurant industry, fueled by his passion for cooking and his dream of someday owning his own restaurant. His love for food extended beyond his profession, as he found great joy in preparing homemade meals for his family, always putting his heart into every dish. In addition to his culinary talent, Ric possessed a natural gift for drawing, leading him to enroll in and graduate from the Art Institute of Chicago. He combined his creativity and love for cooking in creating new recipes and innovative ways to plate his dishes. Anyone who had the privilege of enjoying one of his meals could easily imagine it coming from a Michelin-starred kitchen.

Ric is survived by his brothers and sisters: Emil Cornejo, Jr, Steven (Deborah) Cornejo, Laura Cornejo, Gina (Glenn) Maglish, Monica (Oscar) Flores; and his nieces: Brittany Maglish and Isabella Maglish.

He is preceded in death by his parents Mary and Emil.

Ric's memory will live on in the hearts of all who knew him, as a loving son, brother, uncle, and passionate soul who left a lasting impact through his creativity and kindness.

To celebrate Ric's life, funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at 11:00am - 1:30pm at White Funeral Home (921 W Glen Park Ave, Griffith, IN). Burial will follow at Chapel Lawn Funeral Home & Memorial Gardens (8178 S Cline Ave, Crown Point, IN).