from the USTA Communications Department

Columbus, OH — Roderick L. “Rick” Cushing, 68, of East Wilton, Maine, died at his home with family at his side on Dec. 4, 2012, from complications following a bone marrow transplant, after being diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia in 2011.

He was born April 25, 1944, in Rumford, a son of Gerald and Mildred (Bennett) Cushing. He received his education in local schools and was a graduate of UMF and earned a masters degree in Education in 1967.

For 38 years he was a math teacher at Mt. Blue Middle School.

His life’s passion was Maine harness racing. He owned, trained and drove horses alongside his brother, Bo, for 40 years with their horses always being stabled at the Farmington Fairgrounds. The family tradition in racing is being followed by his sons Ron and Michael, as well as daughter-in-law Sherry (Michael’s wife).

Mr. Cushing was a member of the Farmington Horsemen’s Association, the Maine Harness Horsemen’s Association and the USTA. He was a director of the Maine Harness Racing Promotion Board.

His other interests included sports (The New England Patriots), politics, friends and travelling and dancing with his high school sweetheart and wife of 48 years, Gloria Smith Cushing.

He is survived by his wife, Gloria; sons, Ronald (partner Heidi Gibbs) and Michael (Sherry); brother, Robert (Anna); grandchildren, Jessica, Mitchell, Jessica Clouser and Steven Wilson; brothers-in-law, Albert (Shannon) Smith and Stanley (Helen) Smith; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a brother, Ronald; sister-in-law, Irene; and brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Sheridan and Margerie Smith.

Condolences and tributes may be shared with his family on his memorial wall at www.wilesrc.com.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Farmington Horsemen’s Association, c/o Robert Cushing, 452 Bailey Hill Rd. Farmington, ME 04938 or to the Upper Valley Hostel, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, 17 South St., Hanover, NH 03755.