Maureen F. Cunningham

Maureen Frances “Mo” Cunningham, 81, took her final bow on Wednesday, July 16th, 2025, at Evergreen Woods in Branford, Connecticut, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Born July 22, 1943 in New Bedford, Massachusetts to Frances Burns and Ellsworth Cunningham, Maureen was the eldest of four. She leaves behind her loving siblings, Dennis Cunningham (Betsy) and Peter Douvarjo, and joins her predeceased brother Timothy Cunningham. A proud mom, she cherished her two children, Diane Eldridge Cusimano (Dan) and Stephen Eldridge (Dorinda), and was the proud grandmother to four amazing grandchildren: Thomas Cusimano, Julia Catricala (Tom), Alicia Eldridge, and Nicole Cusimano, as well as a loving great-grandmother to young Levi Catricala.

Maureen’s heart danced to the rhythm of music. An accomplished violinist, she led the All Massachusetts Youth Symphony Orchestra as first violin and concertmistress, taking center stage at Carnegie Hall in 1959. For many years, she continued to shine as the first violin and concertmistress for the Little Symphony Orchestra in Hamden. During her high school days at Fairhaven High School (MA), she was not only the head cheerleader but also served up smiles as a car hop at A&W Root Beer.

A true community champion, Maureen dedicated over 50 years to volunteering, including her lead role at The Barn Sale of Hamden, a charitable consignment shop. She led and rallied more than 500 volunteers for the 1995 Special Olympics World Summer Games in New Haven and hosted the annual Jeff and Joel’s House Party, where traditional jazz bands from around the globe filled the air with joy.

Maureen’s career at Yale University spanned over 30 years, where she served as a registrar and executive administrator in the Department of Religious Studies and the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. While at Yale, she was a trailblazer, working tirelessly to help admit women as members of Mory’s Temple Bar in March 1974.

Join us in remembering Maureen at Beecher & Bennett Funeral Home, 2300 Whitney Avenue, Hamden, on Tuesday, July 29th between 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm, with her Prayer Service to be held at 6:30 pm in the funeral home. A celebration of life to follow at Amici’s in Hamden thereafter. In lieu of flowers, please feel free to make a charitable donation to The Barn Sale, 2407 Dixwell Avenue, Hamden, CT 06514. To send a condolence to her family please see: www.beecherandbennett.com.