Robert Reynolds Cushing Jr. (July 20, 1952 – March 7, 2022) was an American politician who was a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives as a Democrat from the town of Hampton. First elected in 1996, Cushing represented Rockingham District 21. He served nine non-consecutive terms (previously representing Rockingham Districts 14, 15 and 22).[1][2]
Renny Cushing | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Minority Leader of the New Hampshire House of Representatives | |
| In office December 2, 2020 – March 7, 2022 On leave: March 2, 2022 – March 7, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Dick Hinch |
| Succeeded by | David Cote |
| Member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives | |
| In office December 2012 – March 7, 2022 | |
| Constituency | Rockingham 21st |
| In office December 2008 – December 2010 | |
| Constituency | Rockingham 15th |
| In office December 1996 – December 1998 | |
| Constituency | Rockingham 22nd |
| In office December 1986 – December 1988 | |
| Constituency | Rockingham 14th |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Robert Reynolds Cushing Jr. July 20, 1952 Portsmouth, New Hampshire, U.S. |
| Died | March 7, 2022 (aged 69) Hampton, New Hampshire, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Granite State College |
Early life and education
editCushing was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, to Robert R. Cushing Sr and Marie (Mulcahy) Cushing.[2] At the age of 15, he spoke at the State House and argued in favor of lowering the voting age from 21 to 18.
He was raised Hampton, New Hampshire with his six younger siblings and graduated from Winnacunnet High School in Hampton. He also later served as the elected moderator of the Winnacunnet School District from 1993.[3]
He briefly attended Granite State College, before dropping out and working a number of miscellaneous jobs across the US as well as Canada, including as a sanitation worker, a miner, and a farmworker. He then settled back in New Hampshire and took up welding and carpentry.
Political career
editCushing's first foray into civic engagement was in the 1970s, when he was involved with the Clamshell Alliance, an anti-nuclear coalition that opposed construction of the Seabrook Station Nuclear Power Plant in nearby Seabrook, New Hampshire. In June 1988, Cushing's father was murdered by a disgruntled off-duty policeman in his own house.[4] He became involved with the trial of his father’s murderer and began advocating to abolish capital punishment.[5] In 1998, he became executive director of Murder Victims’ Families for Reconciliation.[2]
During the 2019–20 legislative session, Cushing led the effort in the New Hampshire General Court to approve legislation abolishing the death penalty,[6] including successful votes in the House and Senate to override Governor Chris Sununu's veto.[7]
On November 19, 2020, the New Hampshire House Democrats chose Cushing to lead them during the 2021–22 legislative session of the General Court.[8]
Health and death
editCushing was diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer in 2020. He took a leave of absence as Democratic leader for health reasons on March 2, 2022, and died from the disease and complications of COVID-19 at his home in Hampton, New Hampshire, five days later, on March 7, at the age of 69.[2][9] He was survived by his wife Kristie Conrad, whom he married in 1989, as well as his three daughters: Marie Ellen, Elizabeth Agnes and Grace Bridget Cushing.
References
edit- ^ "Robert Cushing".
- ^ a b c d Seelye, Katharine Q. (March 13, 2022). "Renny Cushing, Relentless Foe of the Death Penalty, Dies at 69". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
- ^ Votesmart.org.-Robert Reynolds "Renny" Cushing
- ^ "'Don't let those who kill turn us into murderers'". March 27, 2012.
- ^ "Beyond the death penalty". The Washington Post. May 12, 2015.
- ^ Taylor, Kate (April 11, 2019). "New Hampshire, With a Death Row of 1, Ends Capital Punishment". The New York Times. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
- ^ Milligan, Susan (May 30, 2019). "New Hampshire Abolishes the Death Penalty". USNews.com. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
- ^ Staff Report (November 19, 2020). "NH House Democrats pick Cushing as their leader". UnionLeader.com. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
- ^ "'He believed and he fought': NH House Democratic leader Renny Cushing dies at 69". Seacoast Online. March 7, 2022. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
External links
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