Bruce T. Cunningham

Cunningham, Bruce T. BETHESDA, Md. Bruce Thomas Cunningham, a resident of Bethesda, died after a four-year battle with cancer on March 4, 2009. He was born in Utica, N.Y. on January 14, 1932, and grew up in Albany, N.Y. and was the son of the late Ruth and Earl Cunningham. He graduated from Vincentian Institute High School in Albany. He graduated from Manhattan College in New York City in 1954 with a bachelor's degree in science and a commission in the Air Force. In the same year, he married Madeline A. Bean of Albany and they were married for 54 years. During his Air Force career, he piloted several aircraft and became an instructor. He was stationed in San Marcus Air Base in Texas and Grenier Air Base in N.H. before joining the Air Force Reserve. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, he was recalled into the Air Force and was involved with surveillance activities. He then took a position with a finance company and in 1963 moved to Bethesda as a manager of an American Finance Company office. After various positions, he was named president until the company's merger with a bank now part of Bank of America. From 1980 to 1983, he was the deputy director of the United Mine Workers pension fund. He then joined the Ayco Company in Albany, a financial counseling firm. He retired from AYCO in 1993 as a co-president and returned to his home in Bethesda. One of his great pleasures was his ocean front home in Ocean City, Md. where he headed the condominium board and was involved with several major renovations. He enjoyed golf and was a longtime member of Bethesda Country Club and a past member of their board. He was an avid Redskin fan and attended games for over 30 years. He was an active member of St. Jane DeChantal Catholic Church. All of his seven children graduated from its parochial school. He served on the board of the Benedictine School in Ridgley, Md. and the finance advisory board for the Benedictine Sisters. Survivors in addition to his wife, Madeline; include seven children, Bruce Jr. (Patty), Brian (Irene), Brent (Karen), Cathy Casagrande, (Dr. Eugene) Timothy (Cathy), Jeffrey (Leslie), Daniel (Diana); and 19 grandchildren, who all reside in the Washington metro area. He also is survived by his brother, Richard of N.H. and sister, Suzanne Dickie of Fla.; many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his late sister, Patricia Pritchard, of Albany.