Joseph "Joe" Matthew Cunningham Jr.

His parents, Kathleen (Dickson) and Joseph M. Cunningham, Sr., welcomed their son into the world on June 18, 1943 in Hartford, Conn. The family moved to Keene when Joseph was nine years of age. He attended local schools and was a 1962 graduate of Keene High School.

Joseph devoted his life to education, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from Keene State College in 1966; and later receiving his Master’s Degree in Education from the University of NH.

He worked for thirty-four years with the SAU 29 School District, first as a teacher, then as a supervising principal of Lincoln and Roosevelt schools, and finally as principal of Fuller Elementary School. This role brought Joe great pride for 17 years.

Joe was also a board member with Head Start in Keene, for several years. Following his retirement from education, he volunteered as a driver with the American Red Cross Transportation Program in Keene.

Family meant the world to Joe and he cherished the many memories created with his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren at the family cottage on Granite Lake.

He will be greatly missed by many in the community, especially his wife of sixty years, Donna M. (Holt) Cunningham of Swanzey; his children, Christina L. "Tina" Miller and her husband, Chip, of Newtown, CT, Joseph M. Cunningham, III and his wife, Cara, of Katy, TX, Ryan M. Cunningham and his wife, Tracy, of Petaluma, CA; his grandchildren, Matthew Miller and his wife, Jennifer, Brianna Miller and her husband, Tyler Lawrence, Kayla Gilbert and her husband Cam, Kyle Cunningham; his great-grandchildren, Mason Miller, Lucas Miller, Brody Miller, Gavin Gilbert; a sister, Carol Cunningham; his brothers-in-law, Jerry Holt and his wife, Sharon, Roland Holt; his sisters-in-law, Diane (Holt) Moran and her husband, Edward, Julianne Wilkinson and her husband, Barry; and several nieces, nephews and extended family members.

A celebration of Joseph’s life will be held on Saturday, February 10, 2024 from 2:00 to 4:00pm at Tempesta’s Restaurant, 401 Winchester Street, Keene. Burial in the Monadnock View Cemetery, Keene, will be held privately by the family.

In lieu of flowers, for those who wish, donations may be made in Mr. Cunningham’s memory to American Red Cross – NH West Chapter, 83 Court Street, Keene, NH 03431; or to Hospice of HCS, c/o Home Healthcare Hospice and Community Services, PO Box 564, Keene, NH 03431.