Richard Edward Cunningham Sr.

Dr. Richard (“Dick”) Edward Cunningham, Sr., of Grand Rapids, Michigan, passed away on Friday, June 3, 2022, at the age of 83. He was born the second of six children on January 28, 1939, in Portland, Oregon to parents, Lenore Marie (McGrath) Cunningham and Frederick Lawrence Cunningham. He grew up in Portland and Beaverton, Oregon and graduated from Central Catholic High School in Portland, Oregon in 1957. In high school, he played tennis, golf, and participated in theater. His first couple of jobs were serving as a golf caddy at the local golf course and cleaning clarinets in a small music store in Portland. Dick graduated with a degree in Music at the University of Portland in Portland, Oregon in 1962. He married the love of his life, Diane Patricia (Montgomery) Cunningham, at St. Rose Catholic Church in Portland, Oregon on September 15, 1962.

His first teaching job was in Reedville Elementary in Aloha, OR. Richard has worked in education for over 40 years as a public-school teacher, principal, and superintendent. He loved coaching cross-country, baseball, flag football, wrestling and basketball. He earned a master’s degree at the Pacific University, Portland, OR in 1968 and was later awarded a PhD in Educational Administration from Texas A&M University, Bryan, TX in 1973. In the last years of his education career, he earned an additional master’s degree in Administration in Special Education at the University of Washington, Seattle, WA in 1988 and a doctorate in Administration in Special Education at William and Mary, Washington, DC in 1993, and he taught special education in Washington, DC, Grand Rapids, MI and Saginaw, MI school systems.

Richard was especially proud of his 20-year military service. He enlisted as a radio operator in the United States Coast Guard, eventually rising to the rank of Commander and serving over 20 years in the Coast Guard Reserve. He served on the USS Dexter, and at duty stations in, Portland, OR; Miami, FL; Duluth, MN; Seattle, WA; Omaha, NE; Beaumont, TX; Washington, DC.; Alameda, CA; and then finally in Seattle, WA.

Before going into education, one of Dick’s first loves was music – singing and playing the guitar. In college, he played many professional gigs, and even had a song on the radio. Richard and Diane actually met through their mutual love of music at the University of Portland. As their kids were growing up, Richard would share his favorite artist’s (John Denver, Johnny Cash, Neil Diamond, etc.) music with his children. Richard loved to play and record music during his retirement years. He also sang in many church choirs and guitar groups, served as a lector, taught religious education, and served many ministries during his life. He advocated tirelessly for marginalized and disadvantaged people throughout his life.

He also loved to travel and held education jobs around the country in places such as Oregon, the Panama Canal, the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, Washington State, the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in Montana, Nebraska, the Standing Rock Indian Reservation in North Dakota, Idaho, Michigan, and Washington, DC. Every family vacation included visits to museums, local attractions, state and national parks, and pretty much stops at every historical marker in the continental US. He was especially fond of driving U-Haul trucks or his large family in the iconic Volkswagen van, especially when the door fell off.

The greatest love of his life was his wife, children, and grandchildren. He would stand for long periods of time just looking at all his kids and grandkids on the famous “Nerd Wall”. Dick loved to grow vegetables and flowers too and had great gardens while his family was growing up. He was also an avid reader, lifelong golfer, loved history, genealogy, and photography. Hobbies included running, coaching, rock collecting, and collecting crockpot recipes. He absolutely loved the beach. Dick was thrilled to be an extra in a couple movies produced in Michigan and had small parts in “Small Change” and “Genesis Code”.

Richard Cunningham had a deep love for God, and was a loving husband to Diane for over 59 years, and loving father to nine children: Sue (Ken) Saucier, Patty (Dave) Hines, Joe (Amanda Wilson) Cunningham, Judi (Steve) Mitchell, Cathy (Rob TerBeek) Cunningham, Jim (Jane) Cunningham, Rick (Bennette) Cunningham, John (Ritta) Cunningham, Mic (Katie Brown) Cunningham; and grandfather to 19: Becky (Matt) Rowe, Gina Saucier, Renee Saucier, Rob Hines, Alaina Hines, Patrick Cunningham, Kailee Cunningham, Tyler Wilson Lilley, Andrew Mitchell, Jenna Mitchell, Nathan Cunningham, Joshua Cunningham, Nolan Cunningham, Carter Cunningham, Mason Cunningham, Everett Cunningham, Tess Cunningham, Aidan Cunningham, and Carson Cunningham. His siblings are Fred (Madeleine) Cunningham, Kathy Stine, Mike (Sandi) Cunningham and Mary (Doug) Drennan and brother-in-law John Hiestand and multiple nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sister, Beth Hiestand; son-in-law, Ken Saucier; daughter-in-law, Deirdre Collins.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:30 a.m. Monday, June 6, 2022 at Holy Name of Jesus Church, 1048 Chicago Drive SW, Wyoming, MI 49509 with Rev. Stephen Dudek presiding. Relatives and friends may meet the family Monday from 10:30-11:30 a.m. at the church. Those who wish may make memorial contributions to Holy Name of Jesus Church.