Private party

A celebration of life for James J. Cunningham Jr., at Meadia Heights, Lancaster

A celebration of life in memory of James J. Cunningham Jr.. His sons called Franklin because their father knew him and smoked his cigars, and his table stood on the clubhouse terrace in the afternoon sun, every cigar lit by his own hand.

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Franklin lighting a guest’s cigar across his table on the sunny terrace

1 of ~28hands trusted with the Opus X — the same ones at your partyCigar Journal, 2016

6 minfrom loose leaf to a cigar in your guest’s handHis own words

150+nights that ended with the room around his tableFranklin’s own count

In memory

For James J. Cunningham Jr.

This afternoon was a celebration of life in memory of James J. Cunningham Jr.. His sons called Franklin because their father had known him and smoked his cigars, and they wanted those cigars at the table one more time.

The afternoon

A terrace in the October sun

On Saturday, October 24, 2026, family and friends gathered on the clubhouse terrace at Meadia Heights Golf Club, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

His table stood against the clubhouse wall in full afternoon sun, dressed in his own navy cloth with his portrait on it. The Arturo Fuente Gran Reserva humidor sat open at one end, the wooden molds were stacked at the other, and a cedar tray of cigars he had just finished lay in the middle.

The table

Every cigar lit by his hand

The guests came to the table in suits and ties and left it with a cigar. He lit each one himself, leaning across the board with the lighter cupped in his hand while the guest drew, and the smoke went up into the sun.

Before the afternoon ended they all stood behind the table with him, cigars in hand, for a photo.

How it works

Nothing for the host to arrange

He arrives before the guests do, dresses the table and rolls the first cigars while there is still nobody to watch. He brings the boards, the press, the humidor, the chaveta, cutters and lighters; the venue provides the table. Everyone leaves holding a cigar that was made in front of them.

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How he works a private party

Trusted with the Fuente Opus X—At the Fuente table since 1995—Formula 1 Miami’s official roller—Featured in Cigar Journal—Chosen by Hublot, Tudor and Bell & Ross—

The same hands can be at your event

Franklin Pichardo has been rolling since 1995, the year Arturo Fuente released the first Opus X — and he is one of the few in the world the family cleared to roll it.

See how he earned them