Obituary

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Richard Stuart Cushman, a distinguished teacher and beloved organist, passed away on December 26, 2024, at the age of 79, after being struck by a car near his home in Albany, California. Born in San Francisco and raised in Petaluma before relocating to Berkeley with his family, he was the beloved son of Josephine Cushman and George Cushman, and brother of Robert, all of whom predeceased him.

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After earning his Ph.D. in Renaissance literature from University of California, Berkeley, Richard taught at Stanford University, where he received the Walter J. Gores Award for Faculty Excellence. Fluent in several languages, he also taught at St. Vincent de Paul High School in Petaluma, the University of San Francisco, the College of the Holy Names in Oakland, and most recently, for several decades, the College Preparatory School in Oakland, where he led courses on classical Greek and Roman literature, Dante, Shakespeare, and early twentieth-century fiction.

 

Known for his remarkable intellect, sharp wit, and passion for the humanities, Richard inspired generations of students, many of whom consider him a transformative influence in their lives.

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A gifted musician from an early age, Richard began his professional music career at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Petaluma, where in addition to playing the organ, he conducted several choirs. He later served as organist at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Albany and Newman Hall-Holy Spirit Parish in Berkeley. His lifelong dedication to sacred music led him to mentor and inspire countless young musicians.

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Outside of his professional life, Richard was an avid gardener, a lover of Italian baroque music, and a deeply loyal friend to a vast circle of friends and former students. Above all, Richard was admired and cherished for his boundless kindness, unfailing generosity, and profound compassion, which he showed to everyone he met.