JOHN W. CUNNINGHAM of Weston, CT passed away peacefully at his home, on April 1, 2008.
Cunningham was a carpenter and joined the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America Local 210 in 1956. He was an active member and was first elected as a business representative in 1967. For the next thirty years, Cunningham was General Agent of Carpenters Local Union 210. Towards the end of his career, he also served as President of the New England Regional Council of Carpenters. Throughout his career, Cunningham was committed to improving the lives of his members and the communities in which they worked. He was active in local and national politics fighting for policies to support working men & women.
During his tenure he created the Connecticut Carpenter's Health and Pension Fund and established Local 210's Scholarship Fund supporting members' children's pursuit of higher education. Cunningham launched an apprenticeship and training program that focused on developing the carpenters' craft. He believed that the union played a role in benefiting its members and the greater community. He began a program of inviting union members and the public to hear speakers including Nobel Laureates, Pulitzer Prize authors, economists, and politicians. As an advocate for economic and civil rights, Cunningham put into place programs that reached out to urban communities to welcome women and minorities into the carpentry trade.
In 1987 Cunningham lead the National Building Trades Council effort to help the families of the 28 construction workers killed at L'Ambiance construction disaster in Bridgeport. Brother Cunningham helped to establish the first chapter of A. Philip Randolph Institute in Lower Fairfield County to advance civil rights in the community. He also built a chapter of the Industrial Relations Research Association of Fairfield County to strengthen understanding and cooperation between labor and management. Under his leadership, Local 210 put into place the Carpentry Industry Partnership-the first labor-management cooperation committee with a carpenters union in New England. The committee helped create and strengthen labor laws in Connecticut so responsible contractors and their employees could compete on a level playing field.
Cunningham created the Carpenter's Legislative Improvement Committee, the first federal Political Action Committee launched by a local union to provide a voice for Carpenter's interests at the national level.
In the early 1990s Cunningham formed the President's Committee with other carpenter union leaders from around the country. The President's Committee was instrumental in bringing new leadership into the international carpenters union which revolutionized the structure of the union, making it more responsive to the needs of members and construction contractors.
Among his many honors, John Cunningham was named Stamford's Labor Man of the Year and the Community Leadership Award from the Greater Bridgeport Interfaith Association. Cunningham was appointed a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Connecticut and to the State Police Commission by former Governor Ella Grasso. In 2001, the US Department of Labor appointed Mr. Cunningham Chairman of the Industry Committee for American Samoa, where he led negotiations under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Mr. Cunningham, was born in Stamford, CT, and graduated from Stamford High School where he was the captain of the football team. He went on to play for the University of Connecticut where he was named All Conference.
An active member of the Weston Community, Mr. Cunningham, served on several boards and commissions including the School Building Committee, the Town Building Committee, Planning & Zoning and Little League Baseball. He was a founding member of Weston Booster Club and a member of the Democratic Town Committee.
Mr. Cunningham is survived by his loving wife and partner of 58 years Virginia Ward Cunningham, his sister Kathleen Gibbons of Falls Church, VA; six children Kimberley Cunningham of Danbury, Devon Pfeifer of Fairfield, Bill Cunningham and daughter-in-law Vicki Cunningham of Kula, Maui; John Cunningham and daughter-in-law Kathryn Cunningham of Newtown, Caroline Cunningham of Washington, DC; and Diana Gelston and son-in-law Barry Gelston of Lexington, MA; and seven grandchildren, Chalan Cunningham, Maevereen Pfeifer, Conor Pfeifer, Brennen Cunningham, Makena Cunningham, Samuel Gelston and Geneva Cunningham
A celebration of his life will be held on Monday, April 7th at 11:00 AM at the Unitarian Church, 10 Lyons Plains Road, Westport, CT. Reception immediately following service. Donations in his memory can be made to the Local 210 Scholarship Fund, c/o Carpenter's Local 210, 427 Stillson Road, Fairfield, CT 06824.
Joel Freedman
JOHN W. CUNNINGHAM of Weston, CT passed away peacefully at his home, on April 1, 2008.
Cunningham was a carpenter and joined the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America Local 210 in 1956. He was an active member and was first elected as a business representative in 1967. For the next thirty years, Cunningham was General Agent of Carpenters Local Union 210. Towards the end of his career, he also served as President of the New England Regional Council of Carpenters. Throughout his career, Cunningham was committed to improving the lives of his members and the communities in which they worked. He was active in local and national politics fighting for policies to support working men & women.
During his tenure he created the Connecticut Carpenter's Health and Pension Fund and established Local 210's Scholarship Fund supporting members' children's pursuit of higher education. Cunningham launched an apprenticeship and training program that focused on developing the carpenters' craft. He believed that the union played a role in benefiting its members and the greater community. He began a program of inviting union members and the public to hear speakers including Nobel Laureates, Pulitzer Prize authors, economists, and politicians. As an advocate for economic and civil rights, Cunningham put into place programs that reached out to urban communities to welcome women and minorities into the carpentry trade.
In 1987 Cunningham lead the National Building Trades Council effort to help the families of the 28 construction workers killed at L'Ambiance construction disaster in Bridgeport. Brother Cunningham helped to establish the first chapter of A. Philip Randolph Institute in Lower Fairfield County to advance civil rights in the community. He also built a chapter of the Industrial Relations Research Association of Fairfield County to strengthen understanding and cooperation between labor and management. Under his leadership, Local 210 put into place the Carpentry Industry Partnership-the first labor-management cooperation committee with a carpenters union in New England. The committee helped create and strengthen labor laws in Connecticut so responsible contractors and their employees could compete on a level playing field.
Cunningham created the Carpenter's Legislative Improvement Committee, the first federal Political Action Committee launched by a local union to provide a voice for Carpenter's interests at the national level.
In the early 1990s Cunningham formed the President's Committee with other carpenter union leaders from around the country. The President's Committee was instrumental in bringing new leadership into the international carpenters union which revolutionized the structure of the union, making it more responsive to the needs of members and construction contractors.
Among his many honors, John Cunningham was named Stamford's Labor Man of the Year and the Community Leadership Award from the Greater Bridgeport Interfaith Association. Cunningham was appointed a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Connecticut and to the State Police Commission by former Governor Ella Grasso. In 2001, the US Department of Labor appointed Mr. Cunningham Chairman of the Industry Committee for American Samoa, where he led negotiations under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Mr. Cunningham, was born in Stamford, CT, and graduated from Stamford High School where he was the captain of the football team. He went on to play for the University of Connecticut where he was named All Conference.
An active member of the Weston Community, Mr. Cunningham, served on several boards and commissions including the School Building Committee, the Town Building Committee, Planning & Zoning and Little League Baseball. He was a founding member of Weston Booster Club and a member of the Democratic Town Committee.
Mr. Cunningham is survived by his loving wife and partner of 58 years Virginia Ward Cunningham, his sister Kathleen Gibbons of Falls Church, VA; six children Kimberley Cunningham of Danbury, Devon Pfeifer of Fairfield, Bill Cunningham and daughter-in-law Vicki Cunningham of Kula, Maui; John Cunningham and daughter-in-law Kathryn Cunningham of Newtown, Caroline Cunningham of Washington, DC; and Diana Gelston and son-in-law Barry Gelston of Lexington, MA; and seven grandchildren, Chalan Cunningham, Maevereen Pfeifer, Conor Pfeifer, Brennen Cunningham, Makena Cunningham, Samuel Gelston and Geneva Cunningham
A celebration of his life will be held on Monday, April 7th at 11:00 AM at the Unitarian Church, 10 Lyons Plains Road, Westport, CT. Reception immediately following service. Donations in his memory can be made to the Local 210 Scholarship Fund, c/o Carpenter's Local 210, 427 Stillson Road, Fairfield, CT 06824.
Published by The Advocate on Apr. 4, 2008.