Christopher A. Cunningham was called home into the welcoming arms of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ during the early hours of Jan. 4, 2024, at Ira Davenport Hospital in Bath, New York. He had battled Parkinson’s disease for over 15 years. He never lost his sense of humor or dignity during this time. He remained as fiercely independent in his daily life as possible.
He was born in Maryland in 1951 at Patuxent River NAS, the third of five boys of John J. Cunningham and Sue A. Steinbroner Cunningham. He was raised mainly in Salamanca, New York, but he graduated from Hornell Senior High School in 1970 after coming to Hornell to live with the Richard and Ruth Beckwith family — his uncle, aunt and cousins — for his senior year of school. He also joined and competed on the HHS wrestling team during this time.
He was employed by the Hornell Department of Public Works after high school until he joined the Hornell Police Department on Jan. 21, 1971, as a patrolman. In 1985 he became a plainclothes investigator, serving in that role until August 1988 when he was promoted to the rank of sergeant. He remained at that rank until his retirement from the Hornell Police Force in December 2008. His years of service and dedication to the people of Hornell were evident in the many people he knew and spoke with daily. He was senior officer of the Hornell Police contingent that was sent to New York City to assist with providing security after the Sept. 11, 2001, attack on the World Trade Center. He believed in his role to “Protect and Serve” and was proud of his accomplishments during his tenure as a Hornell policeman. He came to Hornell in 1969 and never left. This was his hometown.
He was an avid outdoorsman and had loved to hunt and fish since he was a young boy. He was a die-hard fan of the New York Yankees Baseball Team, especially Yogi Berra. He also enjoyed golf, and even achieved a hole-in-one at the Twin Hickory Golf Course. He belonged to and supported several of Hornell’s fraternal organizations over the years such as the Association, VFW, AmVets, Elks, American Legion and Moose clubs. He also held an office on the Resident Council at Fred & Harriett Taylor Health Care Center while a resident there, and he frequently won at bingo.
He is survived by his children, Sean (Brittany) Cunningham of Albany, New York; and Sarah (Logan) Wilson of Arkport, New York; his grandchildren, Wyatt and Willow Wilson of Arkport; his brothers Timothy (Veronica) Cunningham of Austin, Texas; Patrick (Susan) Cunningham of Tucson, Arizona; Benjamin (Denese) Cunningham of Gadsden, Alabama; and his sister Gail (Timothy) Talbett-Hosmer of Canisteo, New York; his ex-wife, Patricia Jarrabet Cunningham of Hornell, New York; special friend Susan Cook of Painted Post, New York; and many nieces, nephews and cousins throughout the United States.
He was predeceased by his parents; a young sister, Theda Cunningham; and an older brother, James Jude Cunningham.
The family will be present to receive friends on Thursday (Jan. 11, 2024) at the Bender-Brown & Powers Funeral Home, 354 Canisteo Street in Hornell from 1 PM until 3 PM where funeral services will follow calling at 3 PM. Chris’s cousin, Marna Jean Pritchard will officiate, Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery in Salamanca, NY.
Friends wishing to remember Chris are asked to consider a contribution to Cozy Cats n Kittens Rescue, 80 Seneca Street in Hornell, The Hornell Police Department, 110 Broadway, Hornell, NY 14843 for the Police Benevolent Association, or to the Parkinson’s Foundation, 1359 Broadway, Suite 1509, New York, New York 10018.
