Jack E. Cunningham, 80; Former Manhattan Beach Mayor, Activist

Jack E. Cunningham, 80, former mayor of Manhattan Beach, died Saturday at Torrance Hospital of heart failure.

Cunningham, who served on numerous planning commissions in the South Bay city, was elected to the Manhattan Beach City Council in 1994 and later chosen by his colleagues as mayor. A popular promoter of new businesses, he often pitched in to help--literally--as when he learned to toss pizza dough for the grand opening of Tony Maroni’s Gourmet Pizza in 1998.

Active in many civic organizations, he helped found the South Bay Youth Volleyball Club and worked with the Lions Club and the Culver City YMCA.

A lieutenant in the Coast Guard during World War II, Cunningham later graduated from Loyola University and worked there as publicity director, spending weekends and summers as a Los Angeles County lifeguard. Later, he built a career in administration with Douglas Aircraft and other aerospace companies, and also worked with printing and graphics companies.

Cunningham was active in the Catholic Church throughout his life, and organized a long-running Hollywood Bowl prayer service called Mary’s Hour while at Loyola. He later served as a eucharistic minister at American Martyrs Church in Manhattan Beach and was a member of the Knights of Columbus.