Father Mark Cunningham

Father Mark Cunningham, retired pastor of St. Francis de Sales Church in Herkimer, died Sept. 10. A Mohawk native, he was the son of the late Eugene D. and Rita (Murray) Cunningham. He was educated at the State University of New York at Albany and at Union College in Schenectady. “Mr. C.” taught English for 24 years at the Stillwater and Watervliet High Schools.

In 1993, Father Cunningham began studies for the priesthood at Theological College of the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. He was ordained a priest by Bishop Howard J. Hubbard on Jan. 16, 1999, at St. Patrick’s Church in Watervliet. Father Cunningham’s assignments included St. Mary’s Hospital in Troy; Christ the King Parish in Guilderland; and St. Francis de Sales Parish in Herkimer. He also served his home parish of Blessed Sacrament in Mohawk as its sacramental minister and Our Lady of Hope Parish in Fort Plain. He served as Dean for Herkimer County and was active in diocesan efforts to enhance the well-being of his brother priests.

He enjoyed teaching English and he continued for many years to help students prepare for the SAT test. He also enjoyed Broadway theater, Glimmerglass Opera, chocolate and traveling, especially to Maine and Europe. London was his favorite foreign destination. Through the years he had a private audience with Pope St. John Paul II in Rome (2003) and visited with President George H.W. Bush in Kennebunkport, Maine (1990). He also saw Queen Elizabeth II in London at the “Trooping of the Colors” during her 90th birthday celebration in 2016.

Father Cunningham is survived by three sisters: Eileen (Eugene) Kipper, Loree (Gareld) ­McCoy Gallagher, both of Mohawk, and Maureen (Gary) Snyder of Newport and one brother Shawn, (Cynthia) Cunningham of Chester, Vt. Survivors also include three nieces: Mary, Megan and Leah; three nephews: Bill, Ryan and Aaron; along with several very special grandnieces and grand-nephews; many cousins, former colleagues, former students, brother priests, “Calvary Cemeterians” and loyal friends. He was predeceased by his parents, his brother-in-law Bill McCoy and a lifetime of collaborators and colleagues, especially his Watervliet High School colleague David Max­well, and his priest-mentor Father Edwin Schweigardt.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Sept. 17 at St. Francis de Sales Parish.

Father Cunningham will be interred at the convenience of his family in the Mohawk Village Cemetery. Kindly consider donations in his memory to St. Francis de Sales Parish (219 Bellinger St., Herkimer, 13350), Blessed Sacrament Church (71 E. Main St., Mohawk, 13407) or the Priest’s Retirement Fund of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany (40 N. Main Ave., Albany. 12203).