Photos: Origami helps Naples man connect with others

Dave Cornelisse points to one of his origami animals. As a child abuse investigator, Cornelisse would walk into the interview room with a small stack of colorful papers and engage children by folding the paper into animals, making them feel safe and gaining their trust. "It is simple, I just want to make them smile," he said. "Because they still have an honestly, sincerity and innocence about them."

David Cornelisse folds a square of patterned paper while sipping on a Coors Light at the Blue Monkey karaoke bar on Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2018. Every Monday and Wednesday, Cornelisse heads out to a karaoke bar around Naples to sing some tunes, listen to others sing, make paper animals, and walk around the bar handing the animals to strangers. "I overheard it is that woman's birthday. I think I will give her a paper animal," he said.

Dave Cornelisse usually makes one of five paper animals: a crane, a rabbit, a frog, an octopus and a flamingo. He mostly sticks to smaller pieces of paper to fit them all in an old eyeglasses case to give to strangers, though he makes a few larger versions as well. "I don't do good deeds for recognition," he said. "I do them because I believe in being a good person. And in doing so, I hope to inspire others to do things for other people and ask nothing in return."

Dave Cornelisse spends time sorting through piles of old photographs and pointing out his family, friends, and relatives while organizing the pictures in albums. He uses Facebook actively as it helps him stay in touch with friends and family.

While arranging photographs, Dave Cornelisse takes a moment to look at a photo of him holding a snake while on National Guard duty. During the Vietnam War, Cornelisse spent six years in the National Guard, mostly as a driver.

Dave Cornelisse finishes a karaoke performance of "Can't Help Falling In Love" at Stevie Tomato's on Monday evening, Sept. 17, 2018. Other than handing people ornate paper animals, Cornelisse enjoys making people laugh. After giving the paper animal, he usually tells a few jokes. "There is so much bad in this world, and I don't like that," he said.

Dave Cornelisse loves to watch the Ellen DeGeneres Show and will occasionally fold paper animals while he watches. The show is an inspiration for him to continue on the path he has chosen to follow. "I want to leave behind lots of paper animals and positive energy," he said. Cornelisse doesn't care if people remember his name or keep the paper animals as mementos. He does it because it makes him feel good to make someone laugh or even smile. "I am selfish," he said.

"Hi, how are you? Have I given you one of these?," said Dave to Jackie Haney, Thursday afternoon, Nov. 1, 2018, at a Publix supermarket, while placing a slightly big paper rabbit on Haney's hand. For the past for months, Dave feels the need to ask his frequent receivers if they know the whereabouts of the paper animals he has given them. "Most of them still have it," he said with a smile on his face.