CUNNINGHAM, JAMES

A light went out May 15th when Jim Cunningham passed away at the age of 92 in the Palo Alto VA Hospice Unit. Jim and his two sisters, Virginia and Margaret, were raised in Tomah, Wisconsin. He loved growing up in a small town and participated in many sports and activities. He laughed that you had to participate because they needed every body they could get! He ended up going to State for both track and piano, and the family joke to this day is that he only knew 6 bars of Clair de Lune. According to Jim, it was enough to “wow” the girls!! Jim completed his undergrad at Ripon College, Wisconsin, after which he went to Marquette University Dental School. This was at his Dad’s urging, since a family tradition was 182 years of dentists or physicians. He joined the Navy in 1957 and was stationed in Coronado, then the USS Yorktown, which deployed to the Pacific. The ship sailed to many Asian countries, giving him a taste for overseas travel. In 1959 in San Diego, he met his wife of 63 years, Dee. Though he loved San Diego, it was in an economic slump, so he considered Northern California for his new practice. Jim loved the challenges in dentistry, but more than that, he enjoyed caring for his patients and strived to give them the best treatment. He practiced for 52 years in Mountain View.Jim and Dee had two children, Susan and Tom, and later Alec, Tom’s son, joined the Cunningham family. Jim was president of several Dental Boards, the church Foundation Board, and was twice president of M.V. Rotary. And did he ever love travel! Beginning in the mid-60’s with a trip around the world, Jim and Dee continued travelling to near and far places until mid-Covid. Jim’s early trip planning usually was without reservations, adding even more to the “adventure” ! Several overseas ski trips with friends and with kids were highlights! Skiing, tennis and reading were all high priorities, and he enjoyed them into his late 80’s. Jim loved life and lived it well!A Celebration of His Life will take place at Foothills Congregational Church, Los Altos, on August 3, 2024 at 2pm, with a Reception following. The family suggests a donation in Jim’s memory to Foothills Congregational Church, Ravenswood FHN.org supporting low income dentistry, or a charity of your choice.