Mr. LeMoine Julius “LJ” then later “Jay” Cunningham of Gaithersburg MD, 89, passed away on Wednesday 11-Oct at his residence. His wife of 59 years & life-long love Harriet McNerney Cunningham preceded him by 9 years (9-Oct-2014). Mr Cunningham was born 8-Feb-1934 in Carthage MO to the late LeMoine Edward & Thelma Ann Meredith Cunningham. He is survived by their four children (Michael Jay & Charles Martin Cunningham, Julia Elizabeth Weir, & Harriet McNerney Coleman-Shrewsberry) who each remain local residents, 9 grandchildren, & 5 great-grandchildren.
At Carthage High School, Mr Cunningham dated Harriet McNerney, lettered in football (running back), & was active in ROTC. He studied pre-med at Washington University in St. Louis & at the University of MO in Columbia MO. He married Harriet in 1955 & received his undergrad degree in 1956 & immediately enlisted in the Army. He served state-side for 2 years as an instructor at Ft. Bliss in El Paso TX, then stayed active with the Reserves until 1964 – leaving the service honorably as a 1st Lieutenant.
Mr Cunningham studied the emerging Radiation Bio-Physics (Health Physics) curriculum as a graduate student & research assistant at the University of KS while living in Lawrence KS from 1958 to 1962, then started his professional career in radiation control at the country’s Nuclear Reactor Test Facility in Idaho in 1962. Among other functions, Mr Cunningham helped train sailors destined to operate nuclear reactors aboard ships & subs in Admiral Rickover’s nuclear Navy program. Mr Cunningham was active in the Health Physics Society, including presiding as Chapter President in 1966-67 & was elected Health Physicist of the Year for his chapter in 1971.
Mr Cunningham left Westinghouse in ID & joined the government with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in Bethesda MD in 1973. Mr Cunningham served as Inspection & Enforcement branch-head & in various other management roles, then after 25 years of government service, Mr Cunningham retired from the NRC in 1998 – as a member of the Senior Executive Service – at the government level equivalent to a military 2-star General.
For 20+ years following his retirement, Mr Cunningham was active with the all-volunteer Gaithersburg MD Meals-on-Wheels program, first as a driver, then dispatcher, then ultimately helping run the program. Mr Cunningham’s failing eyesight ultimately forced him to step down.
