Glenn Francis Cushman

Glenn Francis Cushman of Groton, Massachusetts passed away on May 17, 2023.  Glenn was born on January 22, 1930 in Willimantic, Connecticut.  He was the son of Margaret Law and Frank Cushman.  Glenn went to elementary school in several one room school houses, graduating from Windham High School in 1948. After graduation Glenn worked with his father learning electricity and home building.  With the outbreak of the Korean War, he joined the Civil Air Patrol and was a spotter for enemy aircraft. In 1950 at full onset of Korea he joined the US Air Force where he trained in Air Craft Electronics.  He was stationed in California and supervised the electrical and technical repairs on planes returning to combat.  He married Dorothy McCauly in 1951 and on release from the Air Force in 1954 returned to Connecticut.

Glenn then attended the University of Connecticut graduating at the top of his class for electrical engineering.  Moving to Massachusetts he worked on the Apollo Program at Draper Labs while taking courses for his Masters of Electrical Engineering at M. I. T. and Masters of Business at Northeastern University.  With another engineer he co-founded an electrical company, Ditran, working in design and sales of electrical equipment for the Space Program.  In 1971 he accepted a position as Chief Engineer at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado. Upon returning to Massachusetts, Glenn was employed by Northrup Corporation as Electrical Design Manager for 12 years working on Missile and Space Programs.  In 1989 Glenn joined the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory in Cambridge as Senior Systems Engineer for Design and Development of Space Programs such as AXAF and SOHO.

Going into semi-retirement in 1991, Glenn taught mathematics, physics and electronics at I.T.T. in Woburn and substituted in the math department in various local high schools.

Glenn traveled to many countries including his heritage, Ireland.  Occasional trips to his home woods in Connecticut with his dog Pedro were a treat, along with taking care of home repairs.  Always interested in flying, he obtained his private pilot's license and flew with a club then purchased his own Piper. Wanting to fly longer distances to visit his son in Florida, he earned his high performance and instrument ratings - thus enjoying many longer flights in his "Mooney".  In the winter he skied in New England and Colorado, and in the spring, summer and fall, he golfed.  Glenn enjoyed his membership in the Groton Country Club Senior Golf League for several years.

Glenn was preceded in death by his sons, Greg and Paul of Colorado, his stepson William Payne of Florida and wife Dorothy McCauly.  He is survived by his son Richard of Florida and his wife Judithann Cushman of Groton.

A Celebration of Life for Glenn will be held at the Cushman Home on Sunday, June 25th from 2 - 5 p.m. Burial at St. Philip Cemetery in Ashford, CT will be held privately. In lieu of flowers, donations in Glenn's memory may be made to Disabled American Veterans ( www.dav.org ) or to MSPCA-Angell, Attn: Donations, 350 South Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02130 ( www.mspca.org ).