Alan B. Cunningham
Alan B. Cunningham passed away Tuesday, April 28, 2008 at the Overland Park Regional Medical Center.
Alan was born November 23, 1936 in Salt Lake City, Utah. After graduating from North Side High School in Fort Worth, Texas, Alan received his Bachelor’s Degree in both French and Philosophy from Chico State University, later receiving a Master’s Degree in Philosophy from the University of Kansas. Alan taught Italian at University of California-Berkeley, University of Nevada-Reno, and University of Kansas, and retired from teaching Philosophy for 26 years at Johnson County Community College in 1996.
As the son of an Air Force Colonel, Alan lived life to the fullest and enjoyed living in places as diverse as Alaska, the Aleutian Islands, Turkey, France, Italy and Morocco. Alan was a true renaissance man who enjoyed traveling, conversing in Italian and French, and the shooting sports. Alan was an avid motorcycle enthusiast for sixty years.
Alan is survived by two daughters, Rani Self and her husband Bob, Valley Glen, California; Anne Jackson and her husband Craig, Manhattan Beach, California; a son, Ivan Cunningham, Lenexa, Kansas and their mother, Vallapa Herzog, Cha-am, Thailand; two brothers, Dale Cunningham and his wife Liz, Sweden; Craig Cunningham and his wife Cathy, Seattle, Washington; three grandchildren, Margaret and William Self, Valley Glen, California; and Catherine “Siri” Jackson, Manhattan Beach, California.
Donations can be made in Alan B. Cunningham’s honor to the National Rifle Association or Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s National Motorcycle Safety Fund.
Memorial Service
A Celebration of Alan’s life will be held at noon on Sunday, May 3, 2009 at Four Colonies Clubhouse #3, 8100 Monrovia, Lenexa, Kansas.
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I meet Alan in 1972 at Johnson County Community College. I enrolled in his Logic class. He showed up in leather pants. We became friends almost immediately. We shared many of the same interests, motorcycles, photography and guns. Alan and I took many motorcycle trips and had many in depth conversations about whatever was the topic at hand. I loved and respected Alan for his dedication to being true to himself. He was a unique individual who always maintained a keen interest in people and life.
I am deeply saddened at Alan’s sudden passing. We talked about two weeks ago and he shared about the progress he was enjoying with his high power rifle target shooting. The heavens will now enjoy the stimulating conversations that Alan will bring.
Please know that Alan and his family and friends are in Luci’s and my thoughts and prayers.
The world is a better place because of the excitement and curiosity that Alan brought.
Godspeed Alan;
Dick and Luci Capo Rome
Rani, Siri, and Ivan,
You and your family are in my thoughts.
Your dad meant a great deal to me. He was one of the most selfless people I know and was always ready to lend a helping hand. He was of great assistance to me on more than one occasion, for instance driving my antique car across the country twice during moves from and back to Kansas City.
He was also one of my closest friends. I miss him terribly, but he has left us with so much, and I know he will always be with us. I owe him an immense debt which I can never repay for everything he has done for me and have been to me: a mentor, dear friend, comrade, teacher, and helper.
Lisle Kauffman
I learned of Alan’s passing after returning from a trip on May 5. So sorry I could not support your family at the time of his memorial. I knew Alan as a colleague at Johnson County Community College
Kevin Gratton
Allen was my philosophy teacher at JCCC. I had extreme respect for him as a gentleman, a teacher, mentor, and a one-time friend. Since I hadn’t seen him for some time (when he used to live in shawnee); it was my hope to become reaquainted and share philosophy and theosophy, and hopefully a pizza, once again.
It is with great lament that I today discovered that Allen had entered transition, and that I can no longer befriend him in this incarnation. I, all those who knew him, and the so many lives he has enriched, as well as the world as a whole, have suffered a great loss. I look forward to sharing with him in my next incarnation.