John W. Cunningham

Creator Of Carpenters Health And Pension Fund

John W. Cunningham of Weston died at his home April 1. He was born October 28, 1931, in Stamford.

He is survived by his loving wife and partner of 52 years, Virginia Ward Cunningham of Weston; six children, John Cunningham and his wife, Kathryn Thorsen Cunningham, of Newtown, Kimberley Cunningham of Danbury, Devon Pfeifer of Fairfield, William Cunningham and his wife, Vicky, of Kula, Maui; Caroline Cunningham of Washington, D.C.; and Diana Gelston and husband, Barry Gelston, of Lexington, Mass; and seven grandchildren, Chalan Cunningham, Maevereen Pfeifer, Conor Pfeifer, Brennen Cunningham, Makena Cunningham, Samuel Gelston, and Geneva Cunningham. Mr Cunningham was predeceased by his father, William Cunningham of Limerick, Ireland, and his mother, Elizabeth Parsons of Corner Brook, Newfoundland. 

Mr Cunningham, a graduate of Stamford High School, captained the football team, and went on to play for the University of Connecticut where he was named an All American.

He was the retired president of the New England Council of Carpenters and president and general agent of Carpenters Local Union 210. During his tenure he created the Connecticut Carpenters Health and Pension Fund and Local 210’s Scholarship Fund. In 1969 he was named Stamford Man of the Year.

Former Governor Ella T. Grasso appointed Mr Cunningham a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Connecticut and to the State Police Commission.

An active member of the Weston Community, Mr Cunningham served on several Weston boards and commissions, including the school building committee, town building committee, planning and zoning, Little League Baseball, and was a founding member of the Weston Booster Club and a member of the Weston Democratic Town Committee.

In 2001, the Bush Administration appointed him chairman of the Industry Committee for American Samoa, where he led negotiations under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Later that year he received the Community Leadership Award from the Greater Bridgeport Interfaith Association.

 A celebration of his life will be held Monday, April 7, at 11 am, at the Unitarian Church, 10 Lyons Plains Road, Westport. A reception will immediately follow the service.

Donations in his memory can be made to the Local 210 Scholarship Fund, c/o Carpenters Local 210, 427 Stillson Road, Fairfield CT 06824.

The Newtown Bee        April 4, 2008