# David Frederick Cunningham > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/David_Frederick_Cunningham > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/David_Frederick_Cunningham.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Frederick_Cunningham > Source revision: 1315533491 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|American prelate (1900–1979)}} {{Infobox Christian leader | type = | honorific-prefix = | name = David Frederick Cunningham | honorific-suffix = | title = Bishop of Syracuse | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | native_name = | native_name_lang = | church = | archdiocese = | province = | metropolis = | diocese = | see = | appointed = | elected = | term = 1970 to 1976 | term_start = | quashed = | term_end = | predecessor = [Walter Andrew Foery](/source/Walter_Andrew_Foery) | successor = Frank J. Harrison | opposed = | other_post = | ordination = June 12, 1926 | ordained_by = [Daniel Joseph Curley](/source/Daniel_Joseph_Curley) | consecration = June 8, 1950 | consecrated_by = Cardinal Francis Spellman | cardinal = | rank = | created_cardinal_by = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1900|12|03}} | birth_place = [Walkerville, Montana](/source/Walkerville%2C_Montana), US | death_date = {{Death date and age|1979|02|22|1900|12|03}} | death_place = [Syracuse, New York](/source/Syracuse%2C_New_York), US | buried = St. Mary's Cemetery, DeWitt | nationality = | religion = Roman Catholic | residence = | parents = David and Mary Ann (Fitzgerald) Cunningham | spouse = | children = | occupation = | previous_post = Auxiliary Bishop of Syracuse (1950 to 1967)
Coadjutor Bishop of Syracuse (1967 to 1970) | profession = | alma_mater = | signature = | coat_of_arms = | motto = All in charity | education = St. Michael's College
St. Bernard's Seminary | signature_alt = | coat_of_arms_alt = | honorific_prefix = [His Excellency](/source/His_Excellency), [The Most Reverend](/source/The_Most_Reverend) }} {{Infobox bishopstyles | name= David Frederick Cunningham | dipstyle= *[His Excellency](/source/Excellency) *[The Most Reverend](/source/The_Most_Reverend) | offstyle=[Your Excellency](/source/Your_Excellency) | relstyle=Bishop | image = Coat of arms of David Frederick Cunningham.svg | image_size = 200px }} '''David Frederick Cunningham''' (December 3, 1900 – February 22, 1979) was an American [prelate](/source/prelate) of the [Roman Catholic Church](/source/Roman_Catholic_Church). He served as [bishop of Syracuse](/source/Roman_Catholic_Diocese_of_Syracuse) in New York State from 1970 to 1976. He previously served as coadjutor bishop of Syracuse from 1967 to 1970 and auxiliary bishop of Syracuse from 1950 to 1967. ==Biography== === Early life === David Cunningham was born on December 3, 1900, in [Walkerville](/source/Walkerville%2C_Montana), [Montana](/source/Montana), to David and Mary Ann (Fitzgerald) Cunningham.{{Cite web |title=Past Bishops |url=https://syracusediocese.org/past-bishops |access-date=2025-09-30 |website=Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse |language=en}} He was raised in [Oswego](/source/Oswego%2C_New_York), [New York](/source/New_York_(state)).{{cite news|date=1979-02-23|work=[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)|title=Most Rev. David F. Cunningham, Retired Bishop of Syracuse, Dies|last=Campbell|first=Barabara}} He attended [St. Michael's College](/source/University_of_St._Michael's_College) in [Toronto, Ontario](/source/Toronto), before returning to New York and studying at [St. Bernard's Seminary](/source/St._Bernard's_School_of_Theology_and_Ministry) in [Rochester, New York](/source/Rochester%2C_New_York).{{cite book|last=Curtis|first=Georgina Pell|title=The American Catholic Who's Who|volume=XIV|year=1961|publisher=Walter Romig|location=Grosse Pointe, Michigan}} === Priesthood === He was [ordained](/source/Holy_Orders) to the [priesthood](/source/Priesthood_(Catholic_Church)) for the Diocese of Syracuse on June 12, 1926 at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Rochester by Bishop [Daniel Joseph Curley](/source/Daniel_Joseph_Curley).{{Cite web |title=Bishop David Frederick Cunningham [Catholic-Hierarchy] |url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bcunnd.html |access-date=2025-09-30 |website=www.catholic-hierarchy.org}} After his ordination, the diocese assigned Cunningham as a [curate](/source/curate) at St. Ambrose Parish in [Endicott, New York](/source/Endicott%2C_New_York). He was later sent to Washington D.C. to study canon law at the [Catholic University of America](/source/The_Catholic_University_of_America), where he earned a [Licentiate of Canon Law](/source/Licentiate_of_Canon_Law) in 1930. Between 1930 and 1950, Cunningham served as [secretary](/source/secretary) to Bishops Curley, [John A. Duffy](/source/John_A._Duffy), and [Walter Andrew Foery](/source/Walter_Andrew_Foery). The Vatican raised Cunningham to the rank of [domestic prelate](/source/Monsignor) in 1941. He also served as an assistant at Loretto Rest Nursing Home and at St. John Church in [Camden, New York](/source/Camden%2C_New_York). In 1946, Cunningham was named [pastor](/source/pastor) of St. John the Baptist Parish in Syracuse and [vicar general](/source/vicar_general) of the diocese. === Auxiliary Bishop of Syracuse === On April 5, 1950, Cunningham was appointed as [auxiliary bishop](/source/Auxiliary_Bishop) of Syracuse and [titular bishop](/source/Titular_Bishop) of ''Lampsacus'' by [Pope Pius XII](/source/Pope_Pius_XII). He received his [episcopal](/source/Bishop_(Catholic_Church)) [consecration](/source/consecration) at the [Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception](/source/Cathedral_of_the_Immaculate_Conception_(Syracuse%2C_New_York)) in Syracuse on June 8, 1950, from Cardinal [Francis Spellman](/source/Francis_Spellman), with Bishop Walter Foery and Archbishop [Bryan Joseph McEntegart](/source/Bryan_Joseph_McEntegart) serving as [co-consecrators](/source/Consecrator). He was the first priest from the Diocese of Syracuse to be appointed a bishop. Cunningham attended all four sessions of the [Second Vatican Council](/source/Second_Vatican_Council) in Rome between 1962 and 1965. === Coadjutor Bishop and Bishop of Syracuse === Cunningham was named [coadjutor bishop](/source/Coadjutor_Bishop) of Syracuse by [Pope Paul VI](/source/Pope_Paul_VI) on June 16, 1967 to assist Bishop [Walter Foery](/source/Walter_Andrew_Foery) in his duties. Foery appointed Cunningham as diocesan [chancellor](/source/Chancellor_(ecclesiastical)) in 1969. Following Foery's retirement, Cunningham succeeded him as the sixth bishop of Syracuse on August 4, 1970. === Retirement === After reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75, Cunningham resigned as bishop of Syracuse on November 9, 1976. He died on February 22, 1979, at his residence in Syracuse, aged 78. He is buried at St. Mary's Cemetery in [DeWitt](/source/DeWitt%2C_New_York). ==References== {{reflist}} {{s-start}} {{s-rel|ca}} {{succession box | title=[Bishop of Syracuse](/source/Roman_Catholic_Diocese_of_Syracuse) | before=[Walter Andrew Foery](/source/Walter_Andrew_Foery) | after=[Francis James Harrison](/source/Francis_James_Harrison) | years=1970–1976 }} {{s-end}} {{Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse|state=collapsed}} {{authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Cunningham, David Frederick}} Category:1900 births Category:1979 deaths Category:People from Silver Bow County, Montana Category:People from Oswego, New York Category:Roman Catholic bishops of Syracuse Category:American Roman Catholic clergy of Irish descent Category:Participants in the Second Vatican Council Category:Catholic University of America alumni Category:Catholics from Montana Category:20th-century American Roman Catholic priests --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [David Frederick Cunningham](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Frederick_Cunningham) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Frederick_Cunningham?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.