He then frequented local gay bars until he had saved up enough to return to the States. After dropping out of his university studies, Cunanan visited his father in the Philippines and was ashamed to see him reduced to the poverty in which he lived. The argument they had resulted in her dislocating her shoulder after he pushed her. Young Cunanan (seated in cart) with his mother and siblings.Īround this time, she learned that Cunanan was gay.
Cunanan, abandoned, had to move to a less flattering neighborhood. The last time, he was facing charges of embezzling $106 000 and was forced to flee the country. While Cunanan made good money of his lifestyle, his parents were not as well off his father wasn't very successful as a stockbroker and had lost his positions at several agencies. At gay bars, he began charming older, wealthy, gay men, who would bring him along to social functions as a "secretary" or "associate" and often give him gifts. Though he became a history student at the University of San Diego, his nightlife took its toll on his studies. In 1987, aged 18, he graduated from the Bishop's School and was, somewhat ironically (in more than one way), listed as "Most Likely to Be Remembered". His ploys usually worked splendidly and often even fooled people with whom he had socialized the previous evening. At the age of 15, he began going to gay bars, often in disguise in order to hide his age and ethnicity. Even though he was openly gay among his fellow students, he was still very well-liked and popular. Being highly intelligent, he did very well there and was said to be fluent in seven languages. During his high school years, he left the public school system and enrolled in the prestigious Bishop's School. His mother Mary Ann (née Shillaci) was Italian American.
Navy serviceman who then retired from the job and later became a stockbroker when Cunanan was a child. His father Modesto was a Filipino-born U.S.
His parents' marriage was troubled and he would often go to his room to escape the tension. Cunanan was born on August 31, 1969, as the youngest of his family in San Diego.