So sorry to be unaware of this great loss, Sheila.  I had sent you an email which wasn’t able to deliver and was unsuccessful with the phone, so checked the obits  much to my dismay to find Jack’s name among them.  What  a full and accomplished lives you both have lead.  Still it the most painful thing we humans suffer, losing a loved one in death.  
As you know we don’t believe we were created to face death so we are ill equipped to cope with these tragedies.  We do look forward to the time though, “when the meek shall inherit the earth “ and we enjoy our first opportunity of perfect health and youth and can  reach our full potential as humans under God’s rule.  Imagine the things Jack would discover for mans benefit then!  
Until that time we extend our sympathy to you and your family.  If you could send your current email I will resend this letter  again and an update.  I hope this note finds you enjoying the comfort from your family and friends.  
Much love 
Sherry Deans and family

My condolences to all of the Jack Cunningham family on their loss.

I first met Jack when I came to the PMH as a master’s student in 1979.  I was part of a small class who were fortunate to learn medical radiation physics from Jack.  He taught using drafts of the fourth edition, then being written, of the famous text.  I still have those notes.  Jack was nice enough to give us computer files of the interaction cross sections used to generate the book’s appendices.  Through student colleague and friend Ian, I also got to know Sheila and others in the Cunningham family – what a welcoming group.  Later, in Ottawa, I taught medical radiation physics to my own classes over 20 times from the fourth edition.  Well into their retirement, it was always a pleasure to see Jack and Sheila at the COMP/CCPM conference.

Jack’s scientific work on radiation treatment planning benefited likely millions around the world, and he is remembered fondly by many former trainees and colleagues in the field like me.  His legacy is not just one of good science, but is also of openness, good humour, fairness, and of being willing to take the time with each person that wanted to discuss something with him.  We all had such huge respect for Jack.  It’s no wonder that COMP’s YIS competition was named after Jack Cunningham, and that his autobiography was a best seller in our community.

Coming from South Africa and meeting the JACK CUNNINGHAM in  real flesh and blood, was surely one of the greatest moments in my life. Then to discover that he was the kindest person on earth with a wicked sense of humour.
My John's and Cummingham Physics book still is my prized possession.
A giant in the world has gone and my sincerest condolences to his family.

My condolences to Dr Cunningham's family. Dr Cunningham was a renowned educator and advocate for radiation oncology...I was one of many who wore down the pages of his infamous textbook. Dr Cunningham agreed to come to the east coast many many years ago to speak at a CAMRT conference...I was not shy at all to ask him to sign my beloved textbook. 

The whole Hunt family especially Marguerite and John Hunt mourn the loss of Jack.  We, the children, remember Jack as a clown every year at the annual Princess Margaret hospital Christmas party. We were encouraged to yell and scream when either of the clowns showed their face! Mum especially wants to send her condolences to her long time friend Sheila and Dad remembers Jack fondly. Hugs to all  from the Hunts in Ontario and the Yukon.


The last time I met Jack, and Sheyla, was along with the Centenary Röntgen Congress at Würzburg, Germany, in 1995. Both were on a private trip through Germany and had decided to pay a spontaneous visit to the Meeting. 
I had taken an hour off the meeting to visit W. C. Röntgen´s old Physics Institute, where he had discovered the Röntgen Rays, now being a museum, at short distance from the meeting venue.
On my way back I had to stop at a traffic light when I suddenly heard my first name called. That sounded like my last call coming from somewhere up in the Heaven. To my relief and big surprise I realized Sheyla calling me from a car, Jack at the controls.
What a happy reunion, if only for some short time!
Why am I telling this? The friendship with Jack, and Sheyla, which had for long been established was of the special kind that never looses intensity how rarely you micht see each other. Therefore, I heard of John´s passing away with great sadness and the feeling of a big loss and emptiness.
My sorrow and compassion goes to Sheyla and her family.
Ulf F. Rosenow, Göttingen, Germany

I joined Princess Margaret Hospital in 1965 as a novice clinical physicist. I very much appreciated Jack's wonderful support, understanding and encouragement in those early years and beyond. Jack had so many special qualities. I was particularly impressed by his passion and enthusiasm for his work - he often said that he couldn't believe that he actually got paid for what he did!
I'm proud that he was my boss, my student supervisor, my colleague - and my friend.

It was a pleasure to work in the Department of Clinical Physics at PMH during the 1980s where Jack Cunningham’s leadership was a style of guided empowerment. What I am reflecting on this week is how well I can remember his lectures and conversations. Never one to teach by facing a chalkboard, he could get the facts across using fundamental diagrams, anecdotes and humour.
To his family I am sending my condolences on his passing and am sharing with them thanksgiving for how he touched so many people during his influential career.

I had to pleasure and good luck of working with Jack for a few years. His smile was contagious. In his presense there were always smiles and learning about something; physics, life, philosophy.  He was such a great human being. We will miss him a lot. 

I have known Jack through my tenure as the organizer of the COMP J.R. Cunningham Young Investigator Symposium, when he and I met many young aspiring physicists across Canada.  Jack and I co-chaired the Symposium over many years.  I was fortunate enough to develop a camaraderie with Jack, developing gentle banter that may have helped some YIS participants ease off nervousness; Jack always had a splendid tale to tell about pioneering our field, or tracing his genealogy back to Québec.

Jack was a giant in our field; his work and collaborations continue to impact in the radiation treatment of innumerable patients across the world.  I am happy that I have met him.

My condolences to Jack’s family.
Jack was a towering figure in medical physics and was an inspiration to us all. I only met him a handful to times but I have my autographed copy of J&C proudly sitting on my bookshelf.
He will be missed.

I was a graduate student of Jack in the late sixties.   Through sheer force of his buoyant personality,  his knowledge of physics and his people skills I was able to graduate and enjoy a career in medical physics.  He was the true expression of the word mentor.


Jack was a special person, always smiling, always gracious.  

Thinking of him brings back so many fond memories. Each time he gave the physics lecture for a Theraplan course it was always with the same enthusiasm as the first. He enjoyed giving those lectures along with the dinner that followed giving him an opportunity to further interact with the participants. 

On one of these occasions driving Jack to the airport to return to Toronto, we hit a patch of ice and Jack’s comment was ‘I don’t think I’ve ever spun around so many times’.   

He was a gem for sure and my heart goes out to Sheila along with their family. 


Went for training in Ottawa at Theratronics  for first job right out of graduate school.  Brought my Johns and Cunningham text book as it was affectionately referred to while was in school in the hopes of meeting Dr. Cunningham and having him sign it.  The Gods were smiling upon me as he had to substitute and give the physics lecture that week. I brought my book up at a break for him to sign. Apparently it was the first he had been approached in such a matter.  Mumbling something about the dumbest name he and Dr. Johns had given to the concept “TAR”, he signed my book “Best Wishes, Jack Cunningham “ with biggest smile and humblest  of attitudes!  It is still my prize procession in my 30 + years career as a therapy physicist. 

The world was a little better place when you were here and a little lesser now that you are gone.  You will be missed. 

An inspring researcher, excellent teacher and expert in medical physics who guided generations of students including me to get familiar with problems and their solutions in the clinical routine of a medical physicist. A priviledge having met such a wonderful exceptional person with this unique mixture of humor and earnestness. Dear family Cunningham please accept my deepest condolences.
Fridtjof 

I did my PhD at PMH and my student office was two doors over from Jack's. If Jack had not allowed me to use and modify his PDP11 computer to collect my data on breast cancer patients I would never have got my PhD! He trusted me when some other faculty were not sure I should remain in the program. During my years at PMH (1972-1976) Jack had a poster hung in the PDP11 computer room it showed a cat holding onto a bar with only its front feet with the caption "Hang In There Baby". 

A brilliant man, a funny man, a kind man, a generous man — he is already missed.

A kind soul who left an indelible mark in modern medicine. Deepest condolences to the Cunningham family. 

Jack was a giant in his filed, my mentor, and best man at my wedding. He is truly one of the finest human beings I ever had the pleasure to meet. I owe much of my career's success to Jack.

Jack was a great mentor, colleague, and friend. It was a joy to work with him for 18 years at the Ontario Cancer Institute/Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto. It was a further joy to connect with him on a regular basis at various venues around the world after his retirement. He was an inspiration to many. He will be greatly missed. I would like to extend my sincere condolences to Sheila and the entire family.

OBITUARY

John "Jack" Robert Cunningham

January 5, 1927 – January 4, 2020

Foster's Garden Chapel Funeral Home & Crematorium

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