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Note: Notes from his son, Francis Jr:
He was born the fourth of six children of Mary Ann, nee Crehore and Stanley Cunningham. He attended school in Cohasset, Massachusetts until his senior year when he attended Mr. Noble's School in Boston, preparing to enter Harvard. By that time he had lost both parents and, the family being in straitened circumstances following the defection of his father's business partner with the companies liquid assets, was supported through college by his aunt, his mother's sister Lucy Crehore.
After a stint with the contractor building the Boston subway system, he was employed by John A. Stevens, Inc. an engineering firm in Lowell. It was there that he met and married Yvonne Adelaide Loupret, the daughter of a portrait photographer in 1921. In 1953 John A. Stevens, Inc. closed its doors, unable to compete with Charles T. Main, Inc. of Boston. He worked for a short time closing down a large cotton mill in New Hampshire and shortly after reaching 65, retired from business.
As a boy he had learned to build and race model boats with his friend Jack Sweetser, with whom he entered Harvard. His father owned and sailed boats from Nahant, about which we know very little except for drawings he made at the time years afterward - in 1926. When Yvonne was in the hospital for an appendectomy, he began to make a model very much on the lines of his father's sloop. That summer he tested it on Webster Lake in Franklin, New Hampshire, took photographs of it and returned to the fireplace mantel at 155 Butman Road (Lowell).
In 1931 he bought his first sailboat, "Wanderer" moored in Marblehead (MA). A year later he sold it and bought a larger boat better adapted to cruising as well as day-sailing, which he kept until he died in 1965. He was truly happy indeed when he was aboard "Molly May".
Notes from his Harvard Reunions:
While in college he participated in Junior Class baseball, second team squad and the Fly Club.
He listed himself as a Consulting Engineer.
Attended Harvard from 1907-1910 and graduated in 1910 with an A.B. (Associate Arts) degree.
Member of A.S.M.E., New York, N.Y.; Nashua Country Club, Nashua, N.H.
Entered service private September 20, 1917; assigned to Company C, 302d Machine Gun Battalion, 76th Division, Camp Devens, Mass.; promoted sergeant 1st class Construction Division, Quartermaster Corps, December 6; commissioned 2d lieutenant Quartermaster Corps May 16, 1918; promoted 1st lieutenant September 17; discharged May 20, 1919.
Home addresses listed: 155 Butman Road, Lowel and 383 E. Merrimack Street, Lowell.
Business addresses listed: 904 Sun Bldg, Lowell; 16 Shattuck Street, Lowel and 8 Merrimack Street, Lowell.
Harvard Brothers: Stanley Cunningham, '01; George Cunningham, '04; and Alan Cunningham, '16.
Quotes from Francis Sr:
25th reunion: "Shortly after leaving College I obtained a job with the Hugh Nawn Construction Company as assistant foreman, first on the elevated structure at the North Station, and then on the Subway at Cambridge. In March, 1911, entered the employ of John A. Stevens, Consulting Engineer in Lowell. This organization covers the field of mechanical engineering with special reference to the analysis, design, and construction of power plants. In September, 1917, as a private, entered the Army, where, after the first of the year our classmate, Avery R. Schiller, joined our unit. We were very closely associated during this period and had many good times together. Was discharged from the Army as a First Lieutenant in May, 1919, and re-entered the employ of John A. Stevens to organize a branch office in Akron, Ohio. Returned to Lowell in September, 1919, on account of the increase in New England business due to post-war industrial expansion. At this time Avery Schiller joined our organization as Engineer in charge of all our electrical work. It was with great regret on our part that he left us in January 1924, to accept the position of Assistant to the President of the Manchester Traction Light & Power Company. In 1929 this organization became John A. Stevens, Inc., and I became Treasure. Since 1929 we have been fighting the depression, as has everybody else, but the past year seems to indicate that we are emerging from this depression; whether or not this is true, we will soon know. The nature of this line of business is such that problems for solutions are continually presented, and as each problem is new there is no chance for any lagging of interest. Like many others for recreation I have used golf, which I have found more of a punishment than a recreation".
Diversions: "I suppose golf comes under this heading, although I do not know just what to call it; have called it everything I can think of but nothing I learned at Harvard or since exactly covers the matter".
Business Career: "Have been with John A. Stevens, consulting engineer, since March 1911, except for war service; have been building, rebuilding, or analyzing power plants or subjects relating thereto: since New England decided to eliminate business, the new power plant is as rare as a Harvard victory over Yale".
30th Reunion: "As for recreation, sailing out of Marblehead provides my relaxation".
40th Reunion: "My activities since 1946 resemble those of the preceding years, following the same pattern since graduation, practicing consulting engineering in the power plant field; but I approach these activities with less stamina, caused to some extent by advancing years, but for the most part by the futility of opposing a social state which I do not understand and cannot accept. The advent of grandchildren has provided an additional interest affording that I willingly accept. The class reunions provide an interlude as well as a connection to a life and times when the simple act of living was less difficult. I look forward to the fortieth with much pleasure".
45th Reunion: "We are coming to our 45th. It does not seem possible, but our grandchildren prove it. They, again, offer a challenge - to be what they think I am, instead of what I really am".
50th Reunion: "In October, 1959 I retired completely. What to write on the Fiftieth Reunion presents the same problem which occurs every five years. Looking for clues, I remember the write-ups of my classmates during the many five years that have passed. Some say nothing. To look them up and find nothing is rather inadequate and depressing. However, to do likewise would be my normal reaction. Others expound at length. Still others choose a subject which they portray in an interesting or humorous vein. That course of action I shall try to follow. Now almost all of us have reached the period when we have the same problem in common - retirement. Can a person prepare himself adequately to meet this complex situation? I thought I had. Although my business life was devoted to the solution of engineering problems, as an agreeable as well as a remunerative occupation, complete retirement has presented perplexing problems that are difficult to analyze. All the activities, extracurricular, such as hobbies, etc, enjoyed so much in limited time, do not lose their lustre when time becomes unlimited, but they do fail in not being quite sufficient. On the other hand, to return to the former status of the daily grind is abhorrent. Retirement is more than a considerable amount of attributes, but it is not the complete Utopia imagined during the many years of exertion".
From the U.S. Social Security Death Index:
Social Security Number: 015-07-1600
State or Territory Where Number Was Issued: Massachusetts
Actual Death Residence: Massachusetts
He and Yvonne were married by Appleton (Appie) Lawrence.
Appleton Lawrence performed the funeral service.
Francis is buried along side his wife Yvonne, in the Lowell Cemetery on Lawrence Street. Grave 5 , lot D-R-2.
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