Longtime Rye Resident Receives Conservation Award; Recognized by County

(PHOTO: The sign at the Westchester County Center. If it’s Wednesday, it’s Carolyn Cunningham Day. Credit: Catherine Parker.)

An award and then a day to celebrate.

Longtime resident Carolyn Cunningham was honored Tuesday night by the Federated Conservationists of Westchester County with their FCWC Green Seal Award for her contributions to protecting the County’s environment and future. And then Wednesday was declared Carolyn Cunningham Day in Westchester.

Carolyn Cunningham is FCWC’s longest serving Board Member. She first became involved with FCWC in 1980 and served as Executive Director from 1981- 1985. Her experience with FCWC led her to pursue her law degree, which she earned from Pace Law in 1988. Even while starting her new career and raising her children, Carolyn played an active role on the FCWC Board.

During her tenure at FCWC, Carolyn served as Vice President and Treasurer. As a resident of Rye, she very early on became concerned about the noise from the Westchester County Airport, and this became her signature issue during her time with FCWC. She also chaired the membership committee for over a decade.

In the City of Rye, after serving on the Rye Planning Commission for five years (Oct.1990-Jan 1996) following five years on the Rye Conservation Commission/ Advisory Council (2 ½ as Chair.) from 1975-1980, Cunningham was elected a councilperson to the Rye City Council and served two terms from 1996- 2004. In 2006 she was reappointed and served on the Rye Planning Commission until January 2013, when she was reappointed chair of the CC/AC. She stepped down as chair at the Dec. 2018 meeting.

She is married to the actor, John Cunningham. They have three grown children and five grandchildren.