David Cunningham

1941 - 2022

Cunningham, David, - 80, of Galloway, NJ passed away peacefully on May 14, 2022, surrounded by his loving family at home after a courageous 14-year battle with pulmonary fibrosis. David was born November 10, 1941, in Bar Harbor, ME to Roger and Ella Cunningham. After graduating from Farmington State Teachers College in 1965, he moved to Bridgeton, NJ to teach sixth grade at South Avenue School before moving to Brigantine, NJ where he taught elementary and middle school in the Brigantine school district for the next 34 years. After raising two daughters with his former spouse, Priscilla Cunningham, and retiring from teaching, David moved to Philadelphia, PA to begin two decades of traveling the world. He wanted to "now see the places he had pointed to on maps" during his 37 years of teaching history and social studies. He traveled to places like France, Scotland, Holland, Australia, Russia, Cambodia and made countless trips to Thailand and Hong Kong. David also faithfully made annual trips back to Bar Harbor to visit family and friends.With his disease progressing, in 2021, David moved in with his daughter's family and took great joy in spending time with his grandsons, grand-dogs, and cats, both his daughters and their spouses during his last year of life. David was an educator by heart and storyteller by nature. He loved to make history come alive for his students and made learning fun for decades of children, including teaching mnemonics for learning state capitals, wearing a Dr. Suess hat on funny hat day, and jumping around the classroom while describing historical battles. When sharing that Mr. Cunningham was their dad, his daughters regularly heard that he was everyone's favorite teacher. In a similar vein, David was beloved in all circles he traveled. He enjoyed life, family members, and many friends. He reveled in sharing stories from his childhood in Bar Harbor and tales of experiencing new cultures through his travels. David was preceded in death by his father, Roger, his mother, Ella, and two brothers, Lawrence and Philip. He is survived by his daughters Christy Cunningham (Linda Kenny), Becky Mannel (Danny), two grandsons, Zach and Ben, and loyal friend Fred Breen. At his request, no service will be held. Instead, his family encourages everyone who knew him to follow David's lead and follow your own spirit of adventure. Go and visit a place you've never been before, try something new, and gather and share your own stories of adventure.