CUNIN, MARILYN McGUIGAN (August 15, 1930 - April 4, 2017) served as chair of the Distribution Committee for the EVA L. AND JOSEPH M. BRUENING FOUNDATION from 1993-2008. One of three children, she was born to William and Catherine (McGrath) McGuigan in Omaha, NE. As a child, Cunin moved to Champaign, IL, then to Akron, OH, attending school there. She married John Cunin there on August 30, 1952.
Cunin’s call to community service came when she first encountered Our Lady of the Wayside, a group offering residential services to individuals who are mentally or physically disabled. She was referred to the group in 1968 when seeking respite care for her daughter Mary Catherine, who had cerebral palsy. Cunin immediately began volunteering her time, raising over $170,000 and helping Our Lady of the Wayside grow to 45 homes.
Cunin’s husband, John Cunin, was chairman and chief executive officer of BEARINGS, INC. and held a seat on the Distribution Committee for the Eva L. and Joseph M. Bruening Foundation. When her husband’s health declined, in 1992, Cunin took his seat. As chair of the Distribution Committee, she became a major advocate for the Foundation’s Church and City initiative. After her husband’s death in 1993, Cunin also took his place on the Board of NOTRE DAME COLLEGE OF OHIO, serving as board Vice President from 2005 to 2011. A consultant and advisor to CATHOLIC CHARITIES CORP, she was involved in its Early Childhood Initiative program.
Cunin was honored with the 2006 WALKS OF LIFE AWARD from the Irish American Archives Society, the "Peace and Justice" Award from the Cleveland Diocese Commission on Catholic Community Action, "Outstanding FundRaising Volunteer" Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Notre Dame College Fidelia Award, and the 2010 Our Lady of the Wayside Starlight Guardian Humanitarian Award.
With her husband John, Cunin had three sons: John, Tom and Bill, and two daughters: Jane and Mary Catherine. She passed away on April 4, 2017 at age 86 and is buried at All Souls Cemetery in Chardon, OH.
Daniel Brennan and David Patrick Ryan