Gloria Salucci Cunningham, 98, of Morgantown, passed away on Monday, Nov. 1, 2021, at Stonerise of Morgantown, formerly Mapleshire. She was born on April 6, 1923, in Morgantown, the daughter of the late Rocco and Rose Pietro Salucci and granddaughter of the late James and Maria Pietro.
A lifelong resident, Gloria attended local schools, received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from West Virginia University and pursued advanced studies. She was associated with the university for 27 years, 10 years with University High School and 17 years at WVU.
She was one of the founders of the Alumni Association of the College of Human Resources and Education and in 2001 received the Special Dean’s Award for exceptional service to the college. In May 2004, she was one of the first five inductees into the college’s Hall of Fame. She was elected into membership in Kappa Delta Pi and Phi Delta Kappa, national education honoraries, to Delta Kappa Gamma, international teachers’ honorary, and served two terms as President of the local chapter. She was a life member of both the Monongalia County and the West Virginia Education Associations.
She was a life member of the WVU Alumni Association, a member of the WVU Emeritus Club and served as its president in 1997. In 2000, she was the recipient of the David W. Jacobs Award given by the WVU Alumni Association in recognition of her support and service to the association. In May 2009, she was inducted into the Order of Vandalia at WVU, the highest recognition given for service to the university and to the state. She and her late husband, Gail W. Cunningham, were charter members of the Irvin Stewart Society, establishing a scholarship in Mrs. Cunningham’s name in the College of Human Resources and Education. As strong supporters of the WVU Athletics program, she and her husband established the Gail W. Cunningham athletic scholarship endowment. She was also one of the founders of the Committee for the Preservation of Italian-American History and Culture in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences and has served as its chairman since its inception in 1993. She was a charter member of the National Alumni Recruiting Network which functions through the WVU Office of Admissions and Records to recruit students and to facilitate their entrance to WVU.
In the area of public school education, she served as an evaluator of numerous business education programs, was president of the West Virginia Business Education Association and served on numerous advisory councils, particularly in the area of vocational education. She conducted in-service training programs for business education teachers in West Virginia and Pennsylvania and refresher courses for secretaries’ groups throughout the state as organized by the WVU Extension Service.
In addition to her service in the field of education, she was a volunteer in the Morgantown community for many years, serving on the foundation board of Mon Heatlh Medical Center, the advisory board of Goodwill Industries Inc., the board of the Pace Training and Evaluation Center for exceptional children, was a founder of and charter member of the board of the Sundale Rest Home and served as a volunteer with the West Virginia Public Theater for 20 years. She also served on the committees for the Chamber of Commerce 2000 initiatives and worked with the United Ways’ Volunteer Action Committee to increase the spirit of volunteerism among public school students.
She was active in the Morgantown Business and Professional Women’s Club, serving three terms as its president, was a charter member of the Morgantown Soroptimist Club, a charter member and officer of the Morgantown Junior Women’s Club and a life member of the Auxiliary of the Monongalia General Hospital.
She is survived by cousins, Douglas Broglie, Bruce (Mary) Broglie, Leslie (Mary) Broglie, Kathy Broglie Enos and Holly (Felix) Yerace, of Pittsburgh, Myron Pearson, of White Sulphur Springs, Caroline Suplizio, of Washington, D.C., and Fred (Barbara) Del Sardo, of Pawley’s Island, S.C.
In addition to her parents and loving husband, Gail W. Cunningham, she was preceded in death by a cousin, Lawrence J. Pietro Jr., of Oviedo, Fla., and husband of cousin, Kathy Broglie Enos, Jim Enos.
A private graveside service will be held at Oak Grove Cemetery where she will be buried with her husband, Gail W. Cunningham.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Gail W. Cunningham Scholarship Fund, c/o the Foundation of Mon Health Medical Center, 1200 JD Anderson Drive, Morgantown, WV 26505 or to the St. Francis de Sales Memorial Fund, 1 Guthrie Lane, Morgantown, WV 26508.
Condolences:
www.hastingsfuneralhome.com
