Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, he met the love of his life, Lucille, and they moved to the suburbs to raise their family. They were residents of Iselin, NJ for nearly 40 years.

Mr. Cunningham was a United States Army veteran and served as a police officer for 30 years, retiring as a Lieutenant with the Conrail Police Department in South Kearny, NJ. A communicant of Saint Cecelia's Catholic Church in Iselin, he was also a member of the Knights of Columbus, Council 3639. Jim was an avid reader, and he took great pride in the academic and athletic accomplishments of his three children- all of whom he sent to parochial schools and top universities. As a lifelong summer resident of Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard Island, Jim most enjoyed spending time there clamming, crabbing, fishing and swimming with his family, where together they made many great and lasting memories.

Funeral services will be on Monday, August 22 at 10:00 a.m. at Saint Cecelia's Catholic Church, Iselin, NJ. Visitation will be on Sunday, August 21 from 3:00 until 7:00 p.m. at Costello-Greiner Funeral Home (costello-greiner.com), 44 Green Street, Woodbridge, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Jim's honor to:

Friends of Sengekontacket Pond, Box 740, Edgartown MA 02539; or

visit http://www.sengekontacket.org/donate/.

This organization is working hard to preserve Martha's Vineyard Island- his favorite place in the world.