Brother Thomas Patrick Cunningham, C.S.C.

BROTHER THOMAS PATRICK CUNNINGHAM, C.S.C.

NOVEMBER 1, 1939 – AUGUST 13, 2026

Brother Thomas Patrick Cunningham, C.S.C., 85, died on August 13, 2026 at Dujarié House at Holy Cross Village, Notre Dame, IN. He was born on November 1, 1939 in Albert Lea, MN, the seventh of eleven children to Lawrence R. and Mary Agnes (Whelan) Cunningham. He attended Freeborn County P.S. 24 from 1945-47 and Freeborn County P.S. 4 from 1948-53. He graduated from Bethlehem Academy, Faribault, MN in 1957. Brother Thomas entered Sacred Heart Juniorate, Watertown, WI on June 15, 1957 and entered St. Joseph Novitiate, Rolling Prairie, IN on August 8, 1957. He professed first vows on August 16, 1958 and made perpetual vows on August 16, 1961. He received a B.A. from the University of Notre Dame in 1963 and a Masters of Arts from DePaul University, Chicago, IL in 1969. He also studied at Washington Theological Union, Silver Springs, MD, the Hyacinth Foundation, Jersey City, NJ, Lifelink, Washington, DC and the C.A.R.E. Program, Long Beach, CA.

In 1961, Brother Thomas was assigned to St. Edward High School, Lakewood, OH where he taught English and Latin. In 1962, he was assigned to Monroe Catholic Central High School, Monroe, MI as a teacher of English and Latin until 1967 when he was sent to St. Joseph High School, South Bend, IN again teaching English and Latin until 1971. His next assignment was to Holy Trinity High School, Chicago, IL where he served for sixteen years. Among his assignments he was Superior of the brothers, Director of Athletics, Business Manager, Chairperson of the Academic Board, Chairperson of the English Department and President of the Chicago Prep. Conference.

In 1988, he moved from a career in secondary education to Damien Ministries, a community-based AIDs service organization in Washington, DC, serving as Coordinator of Client Services Volunteers. From 1989-1993, Brother Thomas worked for F.A.I.T.H. Services in Hoboken, NJ as Entitlement Specialist and Coordinator where he assisted clients to complete paperwork and managed ten clients providing crisis intervention, various assessments and support during end-stage life crises. In 1993, he received a one-year grant to work at Continuity of Care, Holy Cross Hospital, Salt Lake City, UT. For five months, he assessed the housing needs and opportunities for affordable housing for persons with HIV/AIDS. From 1994-1999, he was head chaplain for the L.A. County Men’s Central Jail in Los Angeles, CA., a jail with 7,200 inmates. From 1999-2001, Brother Thomas served as the chaplain at St. John’s Regional Medical Center, Oxnard, CA, and from 2001-2008 as chaplain at Marian Medical Center, Santa Maria, CA. He was also very active as a volunteer. His community activities included work with St. Matthew’s Parish AIDS Project, Long Beach, CA, C.A.R.E Program, St. Mary’s Hospital, Long Beach, CA, Chrysalis Ministries, Perth Amboy, NJ, St. Francis Parish AIDS Project, Hoboken, NJ and the Justice Project, New York, NY.

Brother Thomas returned to Notre Dame in 2008 where he became the Superior of the brothers living and working at Schubert Villa/Dujarié House until 2014. At the end of his term as superior, he moved to Columba Hall and continued to serve as a volunteer at Holy Cross Village. He also volunteered at the Catholic Worker until 2017. In 2022, he became a resident at Dujarié House until his death.

Brother Thomas is preceded in death by his parents Lawrence R. and Mary Whelan Cunningham and his brothers Larry, Daniel, Michael and Robert and his sisters Theresa (Brua) and Rose Marie (Pederson). He is survived by his brother Martin and wife Patricia and his sisters Margaret (Murphy), Mary Kathleen (Chagnovich) and Ellen (Margetich) and husband, Daniel.  He is also survived by over 80 nieces and nephews. 

Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 27 at Our Lady of Holy Cross Chapel located between Schubert Villa and Dujarié House from 8:00 to 8:45, and then at St. Joseph chapel, Holy Cross College from 9:00 to 10:00 am.  The Mass of Resurrection will follow with internment afterward in St. Joseph's Cemetery at Holy Cross Village.  Kaniewski Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.  The funeral mass will be livestreamed at https://bit.ly/4geRpFX

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