John Robert Cunningham

CUNNINGHAM - John Robert Age 60, of Haverford, PA, July 8, 2008, at the VA Nursing Home in Philadelphia, PA. Born November 21, 1947 in Fitzgerald Mercy Hospital, Darby, PA, to Rosemary OConnell and J. Robert Cunningham. He grew up in Ardmore, PA and went to St. Denis School, Msgr. Bonner High School and graduated from the Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville, MD. John entered the US Army on June 10, 1967 where he served two tours of duty in Vietnam, the first of which he had seen quite a bit of heavy combat and was awarded the Bronze Star with V Device (Valor) for his heroism in rendering aid to his fallen fellow soldiers during a heavy fire fight with the hostile forces on February 9, 1968. He was Honorably Discharged on May 12, 1972. He also served in the New York Army National Guard for 10 years, 1984-1994. He worked for many years as a cab driver in Philadelphia and Buffalo, NY. John had also worked for a period of years as a Personal Care Aide with People, Inc., 2128 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo, where he served the needs of wheelchair bound patients. He was admired and known for his gentleness with those patients. In his free time, he had a great love for classical music and opera and attended classical concerts in Philadelphia and Buffalo. He was a very good woodworker, particularly with refinishing and restoring old furniture. He enjoyed talk radio programs in Buffalo and Philadelphia and was a regular caller to those stations. John was known for his wry sense of humor and his generosity towards others less fortunate than himself. John is survived by his mother Rosemary, his siblings Jaclyn Cunningham, Karen Cunningham, Rosemary Cunningham, Joseph Cunningham (Kelly), Anne Marie Cunningham and Patricia Rathbone (Steven), and many loving nieces and nephews. His Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday, July 21 at 10 AM in St. Denis Church, East Eagle Rd. and St. Denis Lane, Havertown, PA, where family and friends may call after 9:30 AM. Interment will follow in St. Denis Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to St. Denis Sponsor a Student Fund, 2401 St. Denis Lane, Havertown, PA 19083 or to Daniel Faulkner Educational Grant Fund, PO Box 39270, Philadelphia, PA 19136. Arrangements by STRETCH FUNERAL HOME, Havertown, 610-446-1075, www.stretchfuneralhome.com.