Born Aug. 18, 1940
Died Dec. 11, 2023
Colchester, Vermont
Bruce Cunningham, 83, died Monday, December 11 at the McClure Miller Respite House in Colchester, Vt. He wanted to live the rest of his life in the house he designed in Hinesburg, but his tall, strong body gave out due to a combined infection and aortic embolism, complicated by Alzheimer’s.
He is survived by his wife, Donna; daughter Laura Cunningham Firkey, her husband Peter, and granddaughters Emily (husband Charlie) and Eva, all of Essex Junction, Vt.; step-children Catherine Kelly of Philadelphia, Pa., Michael Kelly of Bankok, Thailand, and John Kelly (wife Jennifer, children James and Charlotte) of Ft. Worth, Tx. He is also survived by his brothers John Cunningham (wife Dana) of Durango, Mexico, and Scot (wife Sheri) Cunningham of Osgood, In, as well as many nephews, nieces, and cousins.
He was predeceased by his parents, Douglas and Elizabeth Cunningham, his brothers Fred and William Cunningham, and his sister Ann Maree Beaman.
Bruce served in the U.S. Air Force. He worked as an engineer at IBM for 26 years. Following retirement, he operated a road-grading business and spent many years as a citizen advocate, traveling often to the state capitol to lobby legislators on issues including drug abuse, tobacco use, and property tax fines. He served several terms as president of the Vermont Lung Association and the Arthritis Foundation of New England and as a member of the school boards of the Champlain Valley Unified School District and Essex Junction High School.
He held a bachelor’s degree in physics from Florida State University and a master’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Vermont.
A fitness enthusiast, Bruce completed more than 20 marathons, two ultra-marathons, and uncounted other races. He was an accomplished bicyclist and held two patents for his invention of the CycleCraft, a watercraft that was adjustable to fit any size bicycle and allowed bicyclists to ride, literally, on water.
He loved classic cars and was often seen in the 1952 Jaguar roadster he lovingly maintained, relying on a lifetime of mechanical expertise. Bruce loved the Vermont woods. He designed his and Donna’s home, with sustainable materials, woodstoves, and large windows that take advantage of passive solar energy. He managed their 20-acre woodlot, judiciously cutting down trees and chopping wood for fuel.
He sang in several choruses and played the tuba in the Hinesburg Community Band. He played the bagpipes at home, at car shows and festivals, and sometimes on lake ferries. A private, family memorial is planned.
