Scott Macduffee Cunningham

Scott MacDuffee Cunningham, 90, died on June 19, 2024, at his home in Freedom, New Hampshire with his wife at his side.

Scott was born on April 12, 1934, in Boston to Ross McDuffee Cunningham and Mary Hormell Cunningham. Scott grew up in Winchester, MA but spent a great part of his life on Watson Hill and Berry Bay in Freedom, his spiritual home. Scott’s family first arrived in Freedom in 1917 and proudly celebrated “100 Years on Watson Hill” with the Grand Prize-winning float in the Freedom Old Home Week parade in 2017. Scott and his wife Anne moved to Freedom full-time in 2001 where he was an active contributor to the town and a well-loved member of Freedom’s community. He will be long remembered for his devotion to the Freedom Historical Society, his service as a Selectman and on other town Boards, and his commitment to many other Freedom causes and organizations that were close to his heart.

Scott graduated from Winchester High School and received a BA from Tufts University and served three years in US Army intelligence. Following in his grandfather’s and father’s footsteps, Scott attended Harvard Business School, where he received both a master’s and doctorate in business administration.

Scott taught marketing at Harvard and had a lengthy career as a management consultant where he helped companies improve their performance and coached executives to deliver on their goals. He was extremely effective in doing both. Despite long work hours and constant travel, Scott always found time to spend with family and friends. He loved to entertain and share good food and stories into the night. He had many passions: collecting antique cars, reading history, collecting clocks, going to yard sales, a love of big band and ragtime music. With many mechanical skills, Scott brought puttering to a new level! He loved to travel and saw much of the world. He lived life to the fullest.

Scott is survived by his wife Anne Benedict Cunningham and his three children, Cindy Cunningham and husband Frank Yuen of Melrose, MA, Laura Tyson and husband Herb of Potomac, MD, and Ross Cunningham and wife Amy of Lisbon Falls, ME, and their mother Nancy Ayer Cunningham of Falmouth, ME. He is also survived by his sister, Marcia Cunningham Santner of Freedom. Scott leaves behind beloved grandchildren -- Steven and Michael Yuen; Caroline, Jillian, and Max Tyson; Derek Cunningham, Alex Campbell, Abigail Cunningham; and his chosen grandchild Gabriela Leon Acosta -- as well as his great-granddaughter, Sophie Cunningham; his nieces and nephews; and many other young people who were drawn to “Grandpa Scott’s” sense of adventure, propensity for mischief, brilliant mind, sage advice, and endless supply of well-told tales, some of which may have even been true. He loved spending time with all of them. Scott also leaves behind many good friends to whom he gave support, counsel, and wonderful memories.

A service to celebrate Scott’s life will be held at the First Christian Church of Freedom (12 Elm Street) on Sunday, July 28 at 1 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any donations be sent to the Freedom Historical Society for the Snow Roller Project.

The Baker-Gagne Funeral Homes of Wolfeboro and West Ossipee, NH are assisting the family with the arrangements. To view an online memorial, leave a message of condolences or for more information go to: baker-gagnefuneralhomes.com