Robert Cunningham, the Metro electrician who was fatally shot trying to save a train rider, was described as a hero who loved his family, dog, sports and music.
Th 64-year-old Silver Spring resident who was born in Takoma Park was buried Tuesday at Congressional Cemetery in Washington, D.C.
Following a Mass of Christian Burial at Saint Camillus Catholic Church in Silver Spring, Cunningham’s body was driven to its final resting place in a procession that included dozens of Metro police officers on motorcycles and three Metro buses bearing his photo.
The funeral procession passed by the Potomac Avenue Metrorail Station where the shooting occurred.
Cunningham was killed Feb. 1 while trying to save a female passenger who was threatened at gunpoint. Most likely, said several people during the funeral, his heroics saved more than just one life.
Seated solemnly in the church were many of his coworkers, all wearing a button with Cunningham’s call number 1741. They were fellow members of Local 689 Amalgamated Transit Union. Cunningham had worked for Metro more than 20 years.
Cunningham’ direct supervisor, Robert Mockabee, told myMCM that Cunningham “was the nicest person in the world. He never said a mean word.” He added, “He loved his family” and told stories about his wife and four children daily. “I know he’s going straight to heaven.”
The bilingual funeral service was led by Father Larry Hayes, who called Cunningham “a hero who gave his life protecting the life of a woman and possibly others on a Matro train platform.”
Hayes urged everyone to honor Cunningham’s memory by also thinking of others before yourself and acting to help those around you. “Heroes don’t think of themselves. They put other people first.”
Hayes said that Cunningham’s wife, Elisa, described her husband as “a gentle, sweet and loving man.”
“Robert would always end the day with a goodnight kiss. He never went to bed mad,” Elisa Cunningham told Hayes. His last words to his wife before going to work were “I love you,” Hayes said.
The couple had planned to retire in Florida with their dog.
In a letter read by a family member, his wife said, “You are our family’s hero,” adding, “You taught me what love is, and I thank you for 15 years of happiness. I will love you forever, and we will miss you every day.”
Metro CEO Randy Clarke called it an honor to represent Metro employees and its board at the funeral. “Robert’s greatest act saved lives. We are forever grateful.”
Addressing the Cunninghams, Clarke said, “You will always be a part of the Metro family.”
A GoFundMe site for the family already has raised more than $200,000 from 3,200 people.
Metro employees show their support at the funeral of their coworker Robert Cunningham of Silver Spring, who was shot while trying to save a Metro rider from being shot. @mymcmedia @wmata pic.twitter.com/iJQaY70olw
— suzanne pollak (@SuzannePollak) February 14, 2023
R.I.P Robert Cunningham 🕊️🕊️A True Hero 💚 pic.twitter.com/EsUO6odbXm
— My Left Your Right (@_BeyondIT) February 14, 2023
Today’s Metro board meeting began with a moment of silence for #wmata employee Robert Cunningham, who was killed last week trying to wrestle a gun from a suspect threatening a woman at Potomac Ave. GM says his wife said he’d delayed retiring to make money for his kids’ education. pic.twitter.com/poYDwqrlCO
— Tom Roussey (@tomroussey7news) February 9, 2023
