John H. "Jack" Cunningham Jr.

John Haeseler Cunningham, Jr., known his entire life as "Jack," passed away on Wednesday, February 5, 2025 at the age of 90. He has been a resident of the Seabrook Village Retirement Community in Tinton Falls, NJ, since January 2001. He was predeceased by his wife of more than 52 years, Irene, in September 2011; by his parents, John and Dorothy Cunningham; and by his younger brother, David. He is survived by his son, Jeffrey (Lori), of East Greenbush, NY and his daughter, Jill, of South Brunswick, NJ. He has two grandchildren, Ashely Bird (Ryan) of Guilderland, NY and Matthew (Lauren) of Milton, Massachusetts, and two great-granddaughters: Emma and Sadie Bird.
Although born in Toronto, Canada in January 1935, Mr. Cunningham was always an American citizen; he was raised in Haddonfield, NJ; attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY from whom he received in 1956 a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering degree (specialty Sanitary Engineering) and in 1959 a Masters of Science in Management degree. He served two years on active duty (July 1956 – July 1958) as a line officer in the U.S. Navy.
Mr. Cunningham's engineering career was totally spent in the design and management of potable drinking water projects. He held Professional Engineering licenses in six states. Besides serving municipal clients in the eastern U.S., he served clients while living and working abroad: two years in Ibadan, Nigeria for the Western Nigeria Water Corporation; four years in Egypt for the Suez Canal Authority; and after his retirement in 1997 for a few months on a potable water project in Quito, Ecuador.
During the time that he lived at Seabrook, he spent several years as an officer on the Resident Advisory Council and was also an active member and (for many years) the President of the Wood Shop. He also served on the Tinton Falls Planning Board for more than 15 years, many as its Chairman.
His ashes along with those of his wife will be buried together in a family site at Harleigh Cemetery in Camden, NJ, at the pleasure of the family.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Seabrook Village Resident Care Fund or the Residents Wood Shop at 3000 Essex Road, Tinton Falls, NJ 07753