George Martin Cunniff

George Martin Cunniff, age 75, passed away peacefully on September 15, 2025 with family members at his side. He spent his last days at home in the log cabin he shared with his wife Sue, located in the Smoky Mountains of North Carolina.

George was born on February 19, 1950 in Glens Falls, NY, and grew up in the charming town of Indian Lake, NY in the beautiful Adirondack Mountains, where the family attended First Baptist Church. George's early life was blessed, growing up in a small town with a large family, including his loving parents Walter and Edna, four brothers, and two sisters. George and his brothers enjoyed hunting, fishing, and working along side their father at his gas station, Walt's Garage, where they developed life-long skills and work ethic to achieve success.

George attended Indian Lake Central School, Adirondack Community College, State University of New York in New Paltz, and LaSalle University (Philadelphia, PA). George was truly a jack of all trades which formed his early career in project management for residential and commercial construction and historic restorations in Albany, NY. George and Sue moved to Jupiter, FL in 1994, where George had a rewarding 20-year career as General Manager for Palm Beach Hampton, a luxury oceanfront condominium, until his retirement. George and Sue enjoyed many years of boating and golfing, taking vacations with family and friends, traveling throughout the Caribbean, the Florida Keys, and to their timeshare in Cancun Mexico. They visited many other US destinations, and took a wonderful trip to France including Paris, Caan, Monte Carlo and St. Tropez.

George was a volunteer fireman for several years, as a member of Indian Lake Fire Dept. in Hamilton County, NY and Defreestville Fire Dept. in Rensselaer County, NY, for which he received a commendation for life saving from Albany Medical Center. During his retirement in Florida, George enjoyed being a volunteer golf course ranger at Riverbend Golf Club, and a part-time employee at Maltz Jupiter Theatre in the operations dept.

George was loved and admired by his family, friends, work colleagues and business associates throughout his life. He was always there to help others, and was known for his mechanical skills and problem-solving abilities to troubleshoot and repair, or to design and construct, almost anything imaginable. No matter where he went, he was helping someone, somewhere, fix something. He was the likeable and risky combination of Tim the Toolman and MacGyver, and we loved him for it!

George is survived by his wife of 40 years, Sue Grunenwald Cunniff, brothers Walter Cunniff, Joseph Cunniff, Andrew Cunniff, and Kenneth Cunniff, Aunt Kazuko "Kay" Edinger, brother-in-law Mark Grunenwald, mother-in-law Colleen Grunenwald, first wife Rima Synnestvedt and their daughter Maya Cunniff Traver, four grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. George was predeceased by his parents Walter Cunniff and Edna Edinger Cunniff, sisters Nancy Cunniff Plowinske and Lucy Cunniff Jude, nephew David Cunniff, and father-in-law Charles Grunenwald. A celebration of life and gathering of family and friends will be planned for next summer in Maggie Valley, NC and Indian Lake, NY. If you wish to honor George's life and legacy, please send your donations to Four Seasons Hospice in Asheville, NC or visit FourSeasonsCare.org