John Cunningham

1941 - 2017

John William Cunningham

September 15, 1941 - April 21, 2017

John William Cunningham, 75, passed away peacefully at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in San Jose, California, on Friday, April 21, as a result of complications from diabetes and surrounded by his loving family. He was born September 15, 1941, to John and Margaret Cunningham, in San Francisco, California.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Diana Cunningham; they were married on July 17, 1982. John is also survived by his children, Jackie (Bobby) Vasquez of San Jose, John (Abby) Cunningham of Lafayette, Katie (Erik) Amos of Felton, Marni (Ed) Berbena of San Jose, and Jeff Lawlor of San Luis Obispo, and his grandchildren Carlo, Marlee, Shawn, Finn, Maxx, Adrean, Grace, Allison, and Blake.

John attended high school at St. Joseph's College Seminary in Mountain View, California, and continued his education at St. Patrick's Seminary and University in Menlo Park, and San Francisco State University, where he earned his master's degree in sociology in 1965. He worked tirelessly for the Santa Clara County Probation Department, in San Jose, California, for 30 years, before retiring in 1995. From 1995 to 2006, John enjoyed teaching criminal justice classes at De Anza College, in Cupertino, California.

John took pleasure in spending time with his wife and family, especially his grandchildren, at his home in Aptos, California. He and Diana loved vacationing together, and ocean cruises were a favorite. John was an avid photographer for many years, and built his own darkroom at home. He was also an amateur genealogist. In the latter part of his life, after a friend helped him create his family tree, John traveled to Minnesota to meet many members of his extended family for the first time. For the past ten years, he volunteered at Opportunity to Read, in Watsonville, California, tutoring students who were learning to read and write English as a second language.

"Papa" will be deeply missed for his keen sense of humor, immense vocabulary, a gift for storytelling, love of everything Irish, and his devotion to his family and friends.

Friends and family are invited to a memorial service on Thursday, May 18, at 1:00 PM at Cusimano Family Colonial Mortuary in Mountain View, California, and to a reception immediately following at St. Stephen's Green in Mountain View.