Coloradans who packed a downtown Denver cathedral Friday alternately laughed and cried as they honored a man called “one of the greatest humanitarians of our times.”
Noel Christopher John Cunningham was many things: restaurateur, philanthropist, father, husband, brother.
“But he certainly was not a saint,” former Gov. Bill Ritter said, recalling Cunningham’s ability to string together a series of curse words.
That drew a big laugh from those assembled, from powerful politicians to citizens touched in some way by Cunningham’s generosity, whether it was in the form of advice or money or spirit.
But sobs could be heard throughout St. John’s Cathedral when Ritter talked about Cunningham’s suicide on Dec. 1, two weeks shy of his 63rd birthday.
“The final powerful lesson that Noel taught us is that self-care matters too, even for the selfless,” Ritter said, his voice breaking.
Among those openly weeping was concert promoter Barry Fey, who earlier recalled bringing the singer Bono by Cunningham’s restaurant, Strings.
“The world is a worse place without Noel,” Fey said.
The cathedral was packed long before the 11 a.m. service was scheduled to start. The Very Rev. Peter Eaton instructed those in the back to walk to the front and stand in the center aisle and for everyone in the pews to squish together.
Ritter got a laugh when he noted one seat had managed to remain open, suggesting Cunningham would have “sold it to the highest bidder” and donated the money to one of his many charities.
The Episcopal church staff estimated almost 1,400 people attended the service.
Among them were U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette, Denver City Auditor Dennis Gallagher and state Sens. Joyce Foster and Jean White, along with political and policy gurus Mike Dino, David Kenney, Greg Kolomitz, Sheila MacDonald and Mike Stratton, among others.
A who’s who in Colorado’s business community also was present, from attorneys Steve Farber and Norm Brownstein to Kelly Brough, president of the Denver Metro Chamber of Chamber of Commerce, and Denver Post publisher Dean Singleton and editor Gregory L. Moore.
Allegra “Happy” Haynes, newly elected to the Denver school board, hesitated for a second when asked whether she had known Cunningham well.
“Noel made everyone feel like his best friend,” she said.
Former Channel 7 TV reporter Bill Clarke, one of those who arrived early to get a seat near the front, said he and Cunningham “hit it off” when Clarke started eating at Strings.
“When I had my first heart attack, Noel sent food over to St. Joe’s heart-attack intensive care unit,” Clarke recalled. “The only way the nurses let the food go through is we promised them the leftovers.”
Gov. John Hickenlooper and Denver Mayor Michael Hancock read prayers as part of the service.
Before Ritter delivered his eulogy, Nebiyu Asfaw talked about how much Cunningham did for the Ethiopian community. Some of Cunningham’s projects helped feed and educate children in Ethiopia.
“We mourn the passing of one of the greatest humanitarians of our time,” Asfaw said.
Several at the service noted it was fitting that one of the songs performed by the choir was the hit “For Good” from the musical “Wicked”: “Because I knew you, I have been changed for the good.”
Lynn Bartels: 303-954-5327 or lbartels@denverpost.com
