Norma E. Cunningham

Norma Steines Cunningham, a 31-year veteran teacher at Mascoutah High School, died on April 11, 2018 at the age of 100.  She was born on October 28, 1917 in south St. Louis, MO to Edmund and Clara Richman Steines. She graduated as valedictorian of her Cleveland High School Class in June, 1935, in south St. Louis.  She was awarded a full tuition Honor Scholarship to Washington University, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1939, and a Master of Arts degree in 1940.  She was elected to Phi Beta Kappa honorary society.

After teaching for four years in the St. Louis area, she came to Mascoutah in 1944 to teach German, Latin, and English. She served as the head of the Fine Arts Department.

She was an active member of the Classical Club of St. Louis, and served on the Executive Council of the Freedom From Religion Foundation for many years.  She served on the Mascoutah Library Board in the 1960's, and was a regular patron and supporter of the library throughout her life.

In December, 1953 she married Joseph Cunningham, who was a teacher at Mascoutah High School in the business department.  They were married for 64 years.

Mrs. Cunningham's hobbies were reading and researching the genealogy of her paternal ancestors, Herman and Frederick Steines, who were pioneers in the St. Louis area in the 1830's. She and Joseph were avid travelers, visiting all 50 states, Canada, the Caribbean, most of Europe, Great Britain, Ireland, Scandinavia, Russia, China, and Japan.  She was an excellent cook and baker, and delighted her family and friends with large dinners at their beautifully-set dining room table.  She loved classical music and musicals, and attending performances at the Muny Opera in St. Louis.  She performed in Fiddler on the Roof and The Sound of Music at the Looking Glass Playhouse in Lebanon. She was a big fan of Jeopardy, and proudly told us of getting all five Final Jeopardy questions correct in one week, just a few months before she died.

Preceding her in death were her mother, Clara, in 1972, her father, Edmund, in 1974, and her six-year-old sister, Leona, in 1918.

Surviving are her husband, Joseph; daughter, Kathryn (Bruce) Grogman;  daughter, Linda Cunningham MD (Edward Schultheiss MD); and five grandchildren--Andrew, Sarah, and Ben Schultheiss; and Grace and Alexander Grogman.

A celebration of her life will be held at a later date, to be decided.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Mascoutah Public Library, 3 West Church Street, Mascoutah, IL 62258,  or to the Freedom from Religion Foundation, PO Box 750, Madison, WI 53701.