James "Jim" Gerald Cunningham, Jr.

James (Jim) G. Cunningham, Jr., 94, passed away September 6, 2024. He was born August 5, 1930, in Morristown, NJ. He grew up in Boonton, NJ and retired to Jacksonville Beach, FL in 2017.

Jim graduated from Boonton High School in 1948 and Newark College of Engineering (now NJIT) in 1952 with a degree in Civil Engineering. He served in the US Army during the Korean War at Fort Eustace, VA. He met and married his army friend’s sister, Marilyn Swanson, in Chicago in 1956.

His career in the transportation industry stretched from the 1950’s to the early 2000’s. Jim was instrumental in the development and emergence of intermodalism, specifically in rail/truck transport, through his work at the Pennsylvania Railroad, Erie-Lackawanna Railroad, Consolidated Freightways, REA Express, Gateway Transportation, Conrail, and PTL Trucking/PTL Intermodal where he was president and CEO. He is one of the three founders of the Intermodal Transportation Association (now IANA) and was its first president.

Jim had a wide range of pursuits and interests. He read widely on topics including history, politics, philosophy, religion, geology, and enjoyed classical music. He was an avid hiker, and along with his son Jimmy, was one of the early members of the Catskill 3500 Club to summit all 35 peaks in both summer and winter. He was an enthusiastic cyclist, runner, weightlifter, golfer, and skier. He sponsored one of the “single chairs” at Mad River Glenn ski area in Vermont and was thrilled to get a free season pass for being a skier over the age of 80. He continued to enjoy exercising until shortly before his death.

Active socially, he was a member of the New York Athletic Club in New York City, the Union League in Philadelphia, Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, PA, Pablo Creek Golf Club in Jacksonville, FL, and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes among other groups.

Jim could not have achieved his many accomplishments or enjoyed them so much without the companionship, love and support of his wife Marilyn. He had big dreams for his family and enjoyed helping friends and colleagues achieve their dreams as well.

Jim is survived by his three daughters, Kathy Stepp (Gary), Jeanne Cunningham (Brian Duerr), and Barbara Cunningham, son, Carl Cunningham (Ania), and daughter-in-law Doreen; grandchildren Steven, Kevin, William, James, Christopher, Julia, and Carl, as well as five great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife Marilyn in 2019 and by his son Jimmy in 2021.

A Memorial Service will be held at a future date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Catskill 3500 Club at https://www.catskill3500club.org/donate in Jim’s memory.