Texas Diving Hall of Famer Nancy Duty Cunningham Passes Away

nancy-duty-cunningham-coach-with-young-athlete

Photo Courtesy: Texas Swimming and Diving Hall of Fame

Nancy Duty Cunningham passed away on October 11, 2016 at the age of 90 after a short illness. She led an active life that was full of accomplishments and adventure. She loved to travel and was very active in the First Methodist Adelphi class at her church.

In 2011, Nancy was inducted into the Texas Swimming and Diving hall of fame. She was the Texas state champion on platform five straight years and served as an alternate on both the 1952 and 1956 USA Olympic Diving teams.

She went on to coach many national champions and all-Americans. She was the first coach of both four-time Olympian Cynthia Potter and 1976 Olympian Melissa Briley Mieras. Additionally, she coached national champions and all-Americans Scott Pyle, Kelly Jenkins, Tom Neyland, Terri Seipel, Barbara McCarthy, and many more.

Nancy was an active and devoted member for 33 years of the Houston Sail & Power Squadron, a unit of the United States Power Squadrons – an organization dedicated to boating education, civic service and fellowship. Nancy completed all eleven Advanced Grade and Elective classes achieving her full certificate in 1987. She was awarded Life Membership in 2011 after earning her 25th Merit Mark.

She is preceded in death by her husband Hal Cunningham, and 3 siblings. Left to grieve her passing and cherish her memories are her children, George Duty (Heidi Duty), Deborah Duty and Hall Cunningham (Jane Cunningham); her grandchildren, Alex, Colton, Bridgette, Luke, Athena and Holly, and her sister Ernestine Winfield. She will also be missed by two Vizsla dogs, Delta and Kai.

Memorial service and reception will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, October 22, at First Methodist Church, 1320 Main St. Houston, TX 77002.

Visitation will begin at 1 p. m. with the funeral being held at 2 p.m. at Garmany & Carden Funeral Chapel, 1201 4th Street, Rosenberg, TX 77471, with the interment following at Brown/Beard Cemetery. Friends are welcome to visit with family at the Duty Residence Saturday evening at the conclusion of the ceremonies.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Methodist Houston, 1320 Main Street, Houston, TX 77002 or to Texas Swimming & Diving Hall of Fame,7605 Hardy Drive, Austin, TX 78757.

Funeral services are under the direction of Garmany & Carden Funeral Directors, Inc. 1201 4th St., Rosenberg, TX 77471. (281) 342-4671.

Nancy Duty Cunningham

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Obituary courtesy of Garmany & Carden Funeral Directors, Inc.

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