Ellis William Cunningham lived his life with the same gusto of Frank Sinatra's "My Way" and did so until his last day on earth at the age of 78.

Sinatra sings:

I've lived a life that's full

I traveled each and every highway

And more, much more than this

I did it my way

Regrets, I've had a few

But then again, too few to mention

I did what I had to do

And saw it through without exemption

I planned each charted course

Each careful step along the byway

And more, much more than this

I did it my way

Ellis was born in North Carolina to Aaron and Nina Cunningham and was one of 8 siblings. He attended DuSable High School and served in the Vietnam war with some of his closest friends. Ellis was a proud graduate of the University of Illinois "Circle Campus" and constantly spoke about the power of education - especially if you can get the education for free! He went on to serve as a Federal Probation Officer where he would walk to work, grab a donut and coffee. As a probation officer, Ellis found a career where he was helping people change their lives and a job that never felt like "work".

Ellis was extremely proud of his nickname "The Business Man" as he was an early entrepreneur of the South Loop. He often kept quiet about his independent real estate investment ventures. Those ventures led to Ellis retiring from his career in probation early. He spent the next 30 years hanging out with friends, playing pool at Kasey's Tavern down the street from his home, and traveling with his family to places like Jamaica and Mexico. Ellis spent the second half of his retirement as a snowbird in another up-and coming downtown - Phoenix, Arizona - where he had a group of friends, explored happy hours and frequented baseball games when it was below zero in Chicago.

He is survived by many who love him and his memory will carry on through his newest grandchild Mia Ellise.

Ellis Cunningham will be forever missed but those who knew him well knew he accomplished beyond his dreams. He saw more than he thought he'd ever see, traveled more places than he thought he'd go and lived life his way.