Barbara L. Cunningham

barbara cunningham

Barbara L. Cunningham died January 9, 2011, at Whitney Center in Hamden, after a long illness. She was the wife of the late W. Jack Cunningham, Professor of Electrical Engineering, Yale University. She is survived by two sons, Lawrence Cunningham of New Haven and John H. Cunningham of New York, and by a niece and two nephews. She was pre-deceased by a sister, Gretchen L. Anthony of Chevy Chase, Maryland, and a brother, Charles W. Lynch of Greensboro, North Carolina. She was born December 5, 1917, in Clarksburg , West Virginia , daughter of Lawrence R. Lynch and Gretchen S. Lynch. She graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University, and from the Katherine Gibbs School in Boston . After graduation, she was employed as a secretary for the Physics Department of Harvard University, 1940-1943. A resident of Hamden since 1948, she was active in Cub Scouting, the PTA, as a Church school teacher, and in 1957, as co-founder of Hamden Citizens for the Public Schools. She was elected to the Hamden Board of Education in 1959, and served eight years, a period which saw the construction of two new elementary schools, and major additions to Hamden High School . In the late 1960’s, she was active in organizations promoting interracial understanding, serving as a member of the initial Steering Committee for Project Concern in 1968, and as co-chairman of the Education Committee of the Hamden Human Relations Council. She was also an officer of the first Regional Advisory Council of South Central Community College (now Gateway). Other memberships included the Hamden League of Women Voters, the local district Republican Club, Planned Parenthood, the Church of the Redeemer, and the North End Club. She served as Vice President of the Yale Faculty Club and the Yale University Women’s Organization. In later years, she was a volunteer for the Talking Books program at Yale-New Haven Hospital. A Memorial Service will be held at Whitney Center, 200 Leeder Hill Drive, Hamden, CT 06517 on Saturday, February 5 at 3:00pm, to be followed by a reception. Memorial gifts may be made to the Remembrance Fund of Whitney Center, the Church of the Redeemer, 185 Cold Spring St. , New Haven , CT 06511 , or Recording for the Blind. Arrangements in care of BEECHER & BENNETT, 2300 Whitney Ave., Hamden.

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  1. I saw Mrs. Cunninghams life as an unbroken line of love stretching back as far as the eye can see. Cheerful, charitable, unquestioning, supportive, accepting love for family, friends and community characterized the lives of Barbara and her husband Jack. They were a true inspiration to those around them.

  2. please know my sorrow for the loss of your nother. my thoughts and prayers are with both of you.she was a beautiful lady and always so kind and thoughtful to my mother


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