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Geoffrey C. Carnell, Jr.
Geoffrey Carnell Jr. was born in St. John's on February 7, 1953. He spent his first three years at 8 Cochrane St., where his father, the fifth generation Carnell in the business since 1804, was born.
Nicknamed "little fella" by his heavy-set, personable father, Geoff moved with his family to Pringle Place. There, he spent his school days involved in all sports, serving on the student council and dreaming of becoming an achitect. He won provincial tennis championships and attended both Atlantic Regional and National competitions, besides playing on MUN'S tennis team. After finishing his schooling at Bishop's Field College and Bishop's College, he attended Memorial University of Newfoundland. It was after his second year at university that Geoff realized it wasn't architecture, but civil engineering he wanted to study, believing this would be a career more in keeping with his organizational and problem-solving abilities. In 1977, Geoff was awarded his Bachelor of Engineering degree.
His first job was Staff Engineer with the City of St. John's, from which he was quickly promoted to Development Engineer. In 1981, he went into partnership with a municipal engineering consulting firm, Earle and Associates, where he served as Vice-president until 1988.
But Geoff had promised his father that he would take the Carnell family business into the sixth generation, a promise he kept at his father's sudden death in 1987. By January,1988, Geoff had wound down his engineering practice and taken over the funeral home full time. By August of that same year, he'd dramatically renovated the facilities at Carnell's Funeral Home, and had added a new crematorium. Today, under his direction, Carnell's maintains the highest standard of service, at a level to which others in the funeral service industry aspire.
In addition to being an accomplished engineer and licensed funeral director, Geoff Carnell Jr. is an active business and community member, serving in many voluntary positions. One of his greatest loves is sport, an activity to which he lends his time and considerable talent. At the age of 24, he ecame President of Riverdale Tennis Club, a position he held for years. In 1982, he moved up to the Provincial Association, and served also as president for a three year term. In 1987, he was chosen by Tennis Canada as the "1986 Volunteer of the Year" for the sport of tennis in Canada. Also in that year, he became the first Newfoundlander to be elected to the Board of Directors of Tennis Canada, holding the position of Honorary Secretary for 4 years.
Geoff has also been an active member of the Royal St. John's Regatta Committee. He served as President from 1989 to 1991, and is currently a member of the Board of Governors of the Royal St. John's Regatta Hall of Fame. Additionally, he was Chairman of the Canadian Soccer Association/Newfoundland Soccer Association Olympic Qualifying Game Committee which featured a game between Canada and the United Stated in 1992. He also served in various associations relatead to facilities in St. John''s, including the Fieldian Athletic Grounds Association.
His volunteer activities were not restricted to sport: He has acted as Director and Prresident of the St. John's Municipal Council Association of Non-Union Employees, and in 1991, he served as President of the St. John's Board of Trade, having completed 5 years in many executive positions on its Board of Directors.
Geoff has also been very active academically as well as in the community. He was elected to Vestry at St. Thomas' Church for a three year term in 1988, and has also served on the Organ Committee of St. Thomas' both as a member and as Chairman. He has een a Member of the Board of Directors of Memorial University's Seabright Corporation since 1991, and was an Executive Committee Member of Memorial University's Faculty of Business Advisory Board in 1993. He is also a member of the Founding Board for the Health Care Corporation of St. John's, and an active member of the St. John's Rotary Club.
Geoff also serves in various associations related to facilities in St. John's, including the Fieldian Athletic Grounds Association. He holds a membership in the Association of Professional Engineeers and Geoscientists, and the St. John's Board of Trade and Canadian Independent Group. He has also served in various capacities with the Newfoundland and Labrador Funeral Services Association. A member of the Executive since 1988, he served 3 years as President between 1991 and 1993, and was appointed by the Provincial Association to the Board of Directors of the Funeral Service Association of Canada in 1993. He is currently serving as President of the National Association.
Aside from his many business and community-related activities, Geoff retains his life-long interest in sports and participates in tennis, soccer, floor and ice hockey, volleyball and badminton. He is a contributing writer to '50 Plus' - the New Age Senior Publication, and in 1998, his book "When the Sun Sets: A Guide to Funeral Planning" was launched.
Geoff's personal philosphy can be summed up in these words: "I'm always looking for a way to do things better." , an attitude which has is reflected by the words of a recent publication which stated that Geoff Carnell Jr. "…has to some degree re-engineered the funeral business."
Geoff is married and has two sons.
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