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David Cunningham Obituary
He was born Jan. 9, 1946 in Jamestown, N.Y., son of the late George and Catherine (Gallery) Cunningham.
Dr. Cunningham received his B.S. from St. Bonaventure University; his Ph.D. from the University of Delaware; and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Medicine.
Professionally, Dr. Cunningham most recently served as Partner and Director of Medical Physics, Gettysburg Radiation Oncology in Gettysburg as well as consulting for the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute in Washington, D.C. Previously he was the Director, Medical Physics at Oakwood Center Radiation Oncology & Lancaster Regional Medical Center; Interim Director, Medical Physics at Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute in Hershey; Oncology Services International, Inc., as Director of Medical Physics and Bioengineering; and Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, College of Medicine, as associate professor of radiology.
He served as a member on numerous scientific advisory boards and professional committees including, among others, the National Council on Radiation Protection; Committee on Physics, Pennsylvania Radiological Society; Committee on Training of Medical Physicists, AAPM Educational Council; and was a member of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine.
He was also a former Derry Township supervisor, and a former captain in the Army Reserves.
David is survived by three children, David E. Cunningham of Los Angeles, Melissa A. (Michael) Cunningham Smith of Charleston, S.C., and Kevin M. Cunningham of Hershey; three grandchildren, Miles T. and Eva M. Cunningham of Acworth, Ga., and Evander W. Smith of Charleston, S.C.; his former wife, Mary Calbi Cunningham of Charleston, S.C.; and six brothers, Thomas of LaGrange, N.Y., Dennis of Bowie, Md., Michael of Raleigh, N.C., Gregory of Schroon Lake, N.Y., Kevin of Roswell, Ga., and Mark of Camp Hill.
A visitation will be held from 11 a.m. to noon Thursday (June 4, 2015), in the Hoover Funeral Homes and Crematory, Inc., Route 422 and Lucy Ave., Hershey. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 1 p.m. Thursday (June 4, 2015) in the St. Joan of Arc Roman Catholic Church, 359 West Areba Ave., Hershey.
In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorial contributions be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 897, Hershey, PA 17033.
Online condolences may be made via the online guestbook at www.hooverfuneralhome.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for David Cunningham
Nitin Naik
May 9, 2023
Dear Mary, David, Melissa and Kevin:
I'm very late to the news of Dr. Cunningham's passing and want to convey very best to each of you. Lots of great memories at Grater Harrisburg Cancer center. Too few contacts after departure from oncology services.
Me and my wife Raksha feel very sorry for your loss.
Nitin and Raksha Naik
jim coleman
July 8, 2015
Dear Mary, David, Melissa and Kevin:
I'm late to the news of David's passing but want to convey my very best to each of you. Lots of great memories at St. Bonnies. Regretfully, too few contacts thereafter.
So very sorry for your loss.
jim coleman
Andreea Pennington
June 4, 2015
You are in our prayers...
June 4, 2015
There are lines from the movie "Shadowlands" that resonated with me when I heard them years ago, and now I fully understand. C.S Lewis meets and marries a woman, only to lose her to cancer. At one point she tells him "We can't have the happiness of yesterday without the pain of today. That's the deal." And later, Lewis repeats the sentiment this way: "Why love, if losing hurts so much? I have no answers anymore: only the life I have lived...The pain now is part of the happiness then. That's the deal."
David, I love you, we all love you. In many ways you were larger than life. You were as much Superhero as Saint. I remember meeting you four years ago - your compassion shone through those electric blue eyes and I knew you were special. David, spending time with you was to be enveloped in a warm, gentle peace. Your brilliant mind was always thinking, your body was usually moving, but your spirit captured me. You emanated a sense of compassion, solid kindness and wisdom that could make the worst day seem better.
You helped bring me back from the brink a few years ago, but it wasn't just me you helped. I know others who came to your farm, who you helped with jobs, with advice, with understanding and with love. I can't imagine how many cancer patients you helped over the years or how many students you taught to be excellent physicists.
I was stunned when I read your career achievements - I knew you were a dynamo, but I did not know how far you reached. Again, what an honor to have spent time with such a humble, exceptional person.
My deepest sympathies to your family - I could see at your reunions that your family was your universe and you delighted in spending time with them and sharing in their lives. Thank you also to David's family for your graciousness and time spent with everyone as we learned of David's death.
Thank you for your time spent with my two young children Ben and Mia-you were a busy man, but you found time to teach Mia how to put a napkin on her lap and Ben how to toast and be a gentleman. Thank you for letting them come to the farm and play at a time when they were also hurting. I can only hope a piece of you stays with them forever.
Thank you for showing us David that a sense of heaven can exist on earth. It exists on your farm and in your presence. I hope that somehow, David's family, friends and colleagues can honor him by finding a way to make the world a better place. David made the world a better place. We miss you. Love, Stacey, Ben, Mia and Stacey's family.
vivian wiseman
June 4, 2015
Our deepest sympathies to the Cunningham family. May all of the love and fond memories comfort you all during these difficult days, our most heartfelt condolences. Vivian and Jim
Heather Watson
June 4, 2015
My condolences on your loss during this difficult time. May the love of friends and family carry you through your grief.
Barbara Doyle
June 3, 2015
I would like to extend my sympathies to the Cunningham families.So saddened to hear of your loss. Dr. Cunningham provided physics support to our facility for a few years & was a well respected by all of us who worked with him. He will be missed.
June 3, 2015
wish we could be there but we will be praying for the family to be comforted in this time of great loss. David was a really good guy with a big heart and will be missed.
Don and Kitty Velkley
Amy Koehl Goduti
June 3, 2015
We were so sorry to hear about your loss from the Serff's while they were visiting my parents in Charlotte. Please know that your family will be in our hearts, thoughts, and prayers.
June 3, 2015
Needless to say I am so very sorry. So many wonderful memories.
Caroline Wilkinson Denver, CO.
Cathy and Jackie Pagnani/Joyce
June 2, 2015
Our deepest condolences to the Cunningham Family. Although we only saw Dave a few times a year when visiting PA, we enjoyed his company and hospitality, and remember him with much fondness. A very special man.
Dotty/Steven Early/Rust
June 2, 2015
To the Cunningham family, words cannot express the sadness many of us are feeling regarding the loss of David, he was an outstanding man and was always willing to help anyone. We all lost a great friend. You all should be very proud to call him your Dad and your Brother. He was a great man. He will be forever remembered in our hearts.
Sri Kottapally
June 2, 2015
Our deep condolences to the family and extremely sorry to hear of your loss.
Joanne and Doug Colkitt
June 2, 2015
We are saddened and shocked to learn of Dave's passing. We send our sincere condolences to his beautiful children and family.
June 2, 2015
We will remember u forever. So sorry for your loss.whst a great great man you are. You will be missed by all who loved you. We love you David, sadly missed by Renee Cunningham-Beck -Santiago. And Donna Beck.
John & Ginny Callahan
June 1, 2015
We were so sorry to hear about David's passing. We will keep him and all of his family in our thoughts & prayers.
Holly Ning
May 31, 2015
Dear David, Melissa,Kevin,Mary and other family members, I can't tell how sorry and how sad I am when hearing this tragedy. I worked for David from June 1994 to Jan. 1998. He was a great mentor and great friend to me. He played an important role in my professional life and I will never forget him. I am so sorry for your loss and I share your sadness. I will come to say good bye to David on Thursday.
Patrick Thomas
May 31, 2015
I am stunned by the loss of this fine man and very good friend. David and I go back professionally and personally for twelve years. He was a good family man, an excellent friend to me and to others including those he met more recently. He was also an excellent physicist.
His loss leaves a gaping hole for many of us
Maria Singer
May 31, 2015
I am at a loss for adequate words to express my sadness to all who loved David. I had the blessed opportunity to work with "Dr. C" at Hershey Medical Center. I know Heaven received a special angel. I am so sorry for your loss
Roseann Romito
May 31, 2015
Dear Melissa, David, Kevin, Mary and brothers please accept my sincerest condolences in the loss of David. We worked together for many years in Lancaster and have remained friends for years. I will see you on Thursday.
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Memorial Events
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Jun
4
Visitation
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Hoover Funeral Homes & Crematory, Inc. - Hershey88 Lucy Ave. P.O. Box 475, Hershey, PA 17033
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Hoover Funeral Homes & Crematory, Inc. - Hershey88 Lucy Ave. P.O. Box 475, Hershey, PA 17033
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