CAY CUNNINGHAM
September 8, 1939 - July 14, 2022
Cay was born in Orange, TX. Her family moved to
Port Arthur, where she led cheers at Woodrow Wilson Jr High and was elected Bugle Sergeant of the famed Red Hussars in Thomas Jefferson High School.
Higher Education In Summer 1966, Cay sat outside under a tree having lunch at U of Houston with fellow student Peggy Rogers, who was graduating but uncertain of her future. Cay wanted to finish her undergraduate degree at UC Berkeley and said, “Peggy why don’t you go with me to Berkeley.” A week later, they headed west in Cay’s VW Beetle packed to the brim, arriving in the midst of the Civil Rights Movement, the Free Speech Movement, and the Vietnam War Protests. She took her B.A. in sociology two years later and returned to Houston.
She completed her master’s (1978) and doctorate (1982) in psychology from U of Houston.
In Summer of 1972, she participated in site visits to early childhood programs in Switzerland, Italy, Israel, Austria, and Czechoslovakia.
In Summer of 1980, she participated in site visits to hospitals and early childhood programs in China and Hong Kong.
Careers
Cay worked brief stints at Texas Children’s Hospital (Multidisciplinary evaluation of children), Baylor College of Medicine (researching effects of congenital sensory deprivation on children’s early ego development), and Harris County Department of Education (developing and implementing preschool screening in three public schools to identify 3-to 5-year old’s eligibility for special education)
From 1971 to 1984, Cay served as Director, Early Childhood Division, Houston Child Guidance Center, specializing in providing clinical services to young children and their families. Focusing on families of birth to 5-year old’s, she designed and managed programs including outpatient psychotherapy for children and parents, on-site therapeutic daycare for children with emotional/ behavioral problems, homebased programs for infants at risk of emotional disorder, and training of staff of early childhood programs in the community.
From 1984 to 1986, Cay directed Specialized Services at Houston Child Guidance Center, where she planned and managed assessment and treatment of children, adolescents, and adults; supervision of psychology interns, and consultation to community organizations.
From 1986 until retirement in 2005, Cay maintained a private practice in assessment and treatment of children, adolescents, and adults, while consulting with Methodist
Wellness Program, U of Houston Communication Disorders Department and U of Texas Medical Center. Preceded in death
Her mother Rachel McGill Cunningham, father Arthur Troy Cunningham, and brother Arthur Troy Cunningham preceded her in death. She is survived by her partner, Jim Murtha and his children, Kathryn and Patrick, sister Joan Cunningham (partner Kenneth Jurischk), niece Rachel Hopkins Miller (partner Filiberto Martinez) and nephew Donald Hopkins (wife Cecilia Calvelo, children Henry David and Clara).
God Children
Cay took her role of Godmother seriously. On many a Saturday, while Ernest
Frugé and Christine Adams worked, their children, Anne and Christopher Frugé, spent the day with Cay - reading, working puzzles, playing games, and enjoying music. As the siblings matured, Cay enjoyed their periodic visits to their parents in Houston and maintained steady contact with Anne (Phillip) in Seattle and Christopher (Jen) in New Brunswick, New Jersey
When friend and workmate Frank Fogel asked Cay to look after his daughter Danielle, who was about to marry Peter Werba and move from Houston to California’s Bay Area to pursue a career in art and gallery direction, Cay began a 20-year ritual of spending Christmas holidays with them, including the christening of their children, Lizette and Stefan, who became Cay’s 4th and 5th Godchildren Travel
Cay loved to travel and, true to her nature, her preparation was exhaustive. Prior to visiting Sicily, Cay learned of a performance of Oedipus Rex in an ancient Syracuse amphitheater. She and Jim studied the play and marveled at the production. Beforehand, they wandered through the nearby fabled Cavern, the Ear of Dionysius.
While traveling with her friend Emily in Ecuador, Cay arranged for a private fishing boat to take her around Galapagos.
On a Baltic cruise with Jim and friends Red White and Sue Guidry, the four of them hired a tour guide for a 2-day excursion of St Petersburg and the Winter palace.
When Jim had a week-long consulting job in Moscow, his translator-friend Vitaly Bedritsky took Cay on daily 8-hour tours of the city of his birth using the Metro and other public transportation Reading
Cay read extensively and participated in several reading groups, most notably the Barely Serious Book Club for nearly 25 years. She felt guilty to not finish the book before the meeting and took voluminous notes. Toward the end of a discussion, some longstanding members would say, “I want to hear what Cay thinks about this book.” As BSBC grew larger and Cay’s hearing deteriorated, she became active in a spin-off
group of four that met monthly for lunch and occasionally evenings at the home of one of the members where spouses were included. When Cay hosted a meeting for the BSBC discussion of Robin Wright’s, Rock the Casbah, the guests were treated to authentic middle eastern food, decorations, and music.
Art Godchild Danielle is an artist, many of whose works hang in Cay’s house. Cay and Jim maintained membership in the Houston art and science museums as well as The San Francisco Museum of Art. During their travels, they visited the best museums the cities had to offer. Twice a year, Cay spent an afternoon in the studio of Houston artist and friend since childhood, Lynn Randolph, admiring and discussing Lynn’s current projects.
Music
She and friends Liz Hudson and Carol Brownstein were 20-year regulars at the Houston Symphony. An enthusiastic dancer, even as a memory care resident, for years Cay frequented the hot spots of Houston’s night life.
Big Momma Thornton, Elvis, Michael Martin Murphy, and Stevie Ray Vaughan were among her favorite performers.
To make sure her 14-yr old niece, Rachel, got a suitable music initiation, Cay took her and a friend to their first concert at Jeppesen Stadium to see The Doobie Brothers and Santana.
Gratitude
Cay’s family thanks the Memory Care Unit of
The Tradition on Buffalo Speedway for their loving and competent care this past year and more recently the A*med Community Hospice.
One way to honor Cay is to support the Alzheimer’s Association and facilities like The Care Partners Dementia Day Center and Amazing Place.
The stars are not wanted now: put out every one; Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun; Pour out the ocean and sweep up the wood. For nothing now can ever come to any good.