Maurice Cunningham

The son of Judge C. Carol Cunningham and Theresa I. (Conner) Cunningham, Cunningham grew up in Saugus.[1] He graduated from Boston College's School of Education in 1961 with a B.S. in history. He was also vice president of his class, co-chairman of the Jazz Committee, a member of the Student Senate, and a member of the Class Council.[2][3] After graduating he began working in the Saugus Public School system. In 1965 he graduated from the Suffolk University Law School with a Bachelor of Law degree.[4]

From 1963 to 1967, Cunningham was a Saugus town meeting member. He also served as acting town moderator.[3]

In 1967, Cunningham was elected to the Saugus Board of Selectmen. He topped the ticket with 4,388 votes and was named chairman of the board.[5][6]

During his tenure on the board, the selectmen unanimously voted not to renew Town Manager Paul H. Boucher's contract.[7] To replace him, the board selected Clarence Wilkinson over former Keene, New Hampshire City Manager Frank A. Saia by 3 to 2 vote, with Cunningham voting for Saia.[6]

Cunningham was a candidate for the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1968. He won the Democratic nomination, but lost to Belden Bly in the general election 6059 votes to 5188.[8]

In 1974, Cunningham was chosen by the Board of Selectmen to replace Robert Hagopian as town manager.[9] He was later given a five-year contract by the board and the School Committee granted him a two-year leave of absence from his position as assistant principal of the Saugus Junior High School.[10] During his tenure, Cunningham was heavily involved in getting community development grants and funds for new sewers and water extension programs.[11] In 1975, $30,000 in municipal funds (about $19,000 in cash and $11,000 in checks) were stolen from a vault the Collector–Treasurer's office. Cunningham stated that he could not explain why the money had not been deposited in a local bank as it usually was.[12]

In 1976, the School Committee unanimously voted not to extend Cunningham's leave and he stepped down as Town Manager.[11]

Cunningham later left the Saugus school system and moved to North Andover, Massachusetts. He opened a firm that assisted professionals establish non-investment second incomes.[13] He then worked as an attorney specializing in personal injury and worker's compensation. In 1991 he negotiated the largest settlement for an industrial accident case in Massachusetts history.[14][15] He later retired to Bonita Springs, Florida.[16]

Cunningham died on May 6, 2006, after a long illness.[16]