JOAN CUNNINGHAM Obituary

Joan Archer Hill Cunningham  
Joan Cunningham passed away on December 10, 2020 at the Hebrew Home of Greater Washington. Joan was the kind of person who left an impression of interest, friendship, and connection wherever she went. Born on May 14,1932, this life-long Washingtonian was cherished by her parents Joseph Archer Hill and Julia (Dulany) Hill; her younger brother William Dulany Hill; and her Uncle, Aunt; and cousins Clarence, Mary and Carnot Evans. Joan attended public schools in the District Of Columbia, graduating from Dunbar High School in 1950. Joan attended Boston University, receiving her Master's in French from Middlebury College after spending a year studying at the Sorbonne in Paris, France. This began a love of the French language and culture. She excelled at teaching French in D.C. Public Schools for 40 years, 35 of those at Woodrow Wilson High School. Joan was predeceased by her husband, Ralph S. Cunningham Jr, Esq., whom she married in 1955. He died in 1976. She enjoyed thirty wonderful years with her beloved partner, Cynthia Melman. Joan leaves an incredible group of friends, whose company they both treasured.She leaves her beloved family: Cynthia; her son Ralph (Maria Casarella) and their two sons Henry and Julian; daughter Julie (Jay Cook) and their four children Matthew (Mekdes), Antoine (deceased) (Stephanie), Mateo (Julia) and Zoe; her brother William Dulany Hill (Rikki) and their two sons Dulany, Jr., Letitia Bridges, M.D. and their sons Lany, Isaiah, and Eli, and John Hill (Ari Langer); her cousin Carnot's children Monica, Carnot III, and Barrett Evans (Claudia Vitale) and their children Paloma and Carter, and her Great Grandchildren, Quentin, Sengbe, and Caiden.Joan Cunningham was an extraordinary woman, mother, grandmother (Nana), great-grandmother, partner, aunt (Tante), and friend. The family is forever grateful for what she gave and taught us. Her legacy of "toujours l'amour" will endure for all who knew and loved her. May her memory be a blessing always.A Celebration of Life for Joan will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, December 28, 2021, at Metropolitan Community Church, 474 Ridge Street (5th and Ridge), Washington, DC. Please bring your mask and vaccination card.The service will also be livestreamed:https://mccdc.com/mccdc-live-stream-services/A reception following the service will be held at 12 noon at Ralph Cunningham's home. Please RSVP to [email protected] for more information.Donations may be made to:Georgetown Day School www.GDS.org/ GivingTo the Julia Dulany Hill fund in memory of Joan Hill Cunningham.