BRONX — When Sal Cunningham was born, doctors diagnosed him with meningitis and told his mother he would likely never walk.
With extensive help from physical therapists, though, Cunningham defied the odds and took up gymnastics, relatives said. After graduating from Lehman High School in East Tremont, he began volunteering as a gymnastics coach across the city and dreamed of opening his own gym for underprivileged kids.
But that dream was lost Thursday morning when Cunningham, 26, died after the car he was riding in swerved out of control and slammed into a concrete median on the Henry Hudson Parkway near West 96th Street.
He was rushed to St. Luke’s Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, fire officials said.
"He was always smiling," his mother, Darlene Cunningham, 52, said through tears Friday. "No matter what was going on, he cheered you up. If you were mad at him, he’d say, ‘You know you love me,’ and you couldn’t be mad anymore."
She recalled one recent incident that personified him.
"A stray cat on our street was killed by a pitbull, and Sal buried the cat," Darlene Cunningham recalled. "That’s the type of person he was."
Cunningham's family said he loved animals, classical music and bodybuilding. They said he also spent time each week sweeping the sidewalks outside Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church on 187th Street.
But his true love was coaching kids in gymnastics at P.S. 101, Ursuline High School and Performance Edge Dance School.
"He always had coaches who took an interest in him, and he wanted to give it back," Darlene Cunningham said.
Christopher Cunningham, 30, said working with younger people was what gave his brother the most joy.
"He really wanted to help kids get in shape who couldn’t afford it," Christopher Cunningham said.
Darlene Cunningham recalled kids waiting on their block for her son to return home to teach them how to flip.
While Cunningham devoted extensive time to his friends and students, relatives said, he always made his mother his top priority.
"He was my friend, too," Darlene Cunningham said. "He always took his time to come talk to me. If he had a decision to make, he’d always come ask me first."
"You can’t replace him," Christopher Cunningham said. "If there’s a heaven, he’s there."
