James T. Cunningham died peacefully on Sunday, August 14, surrounded by the comfort and love of his immediate family. He was 75 years old.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., he met the love of his life, Lucille, and they moved to the suburbs to raise their family. They were residents of Iselin, N.J., for nearly 40 years.
Mr. Cunningham was a U.S. Army veteran and served as a police officer for 30 years, retiring as a lieutenant with the Conrail Police Department in South Kearny, N.J. A communicant of Saint Cecelia’s Catholic Church in Iselin, he was also a member of the Knights of Columbus, Council 3639.
Jim was an avid reader, and he took great pride in the academic and athletic accomplishments of his three children, all of whom he sent to parochial schools and top universities. As a lifelong summer resident of Oak Bluffs, Jim most enjoyed spending time there clamming, crabbing, fishing, and swimming with his family, where together they made many great and lasting memories.
He was predeceased by his brother, Thomas Cunningham. Surviving are his wife of 50 years, Lucille Caputo Cunningham; his children, James T. Cunningham III and his wife, Jennifer, of Ramsey, N.J., Joseph Cunningham and his wife, Julie, of Glen Rock, N.J., and Lori E. Young and her husband, Jeff, of Weehawken, N.J.; a sister, Millicent Colon, of Brooklyn; and five grandchildren: Emma, Sophie, Connor, Cailyn, and James T. Cunningham IV.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, August 22, at 10 am at Saint Cecelia’s Catholic Church, Iselin, N.J. Visitation will be on Sunday, August 21 from 3 until 7 pm at Costello-Greiner Funeral Home (costello-greiner.com), 44 Green Street, Woodbridge, NJ.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Jim’s honor to: Friends of Sengekontacket Pond, P.O. Box 740, Edgartown MA 02539; or visit sengekontacket.org/donate/. This organization is working hard to preserve Martha’s Vineyard, his favorite place in the world.