Howard Gardiner Cushing, Jr.

Howard Gardiner Cushing, Jr.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/211854073/howard-gardiner-cushing

Cushing was prominent stockbroker, socialite and member of the imperious Cushing family. Son of Howard Gardiner Cushing, Sr., the famous painter, and Ethel Cochrane Cushing of Boston. Husband of Mary Ames.

Cushing was a 1924 graduate of Groton and a 1928 graduate of Harvard. He travelled around the world extensively and brought back home extravagant and expensive gifts for his four children; Howard, Freddy, Minnie and Thomas.

He retired at an early age and moved permanently to 'The Ledges', his family's historic cape cod style compound built by his grandfather on Ocean Drive occupying one of the most spectacular promontories in Newport Rhode Island, where he actively pursued his two main interests; Golfing and Swimming. He served as President of The Newport Country Club, where he often played with his good friend T. Suffern Tailer. Whenever President Dwight D. Eisenhower came to Newport, one of only two presidents to summer there, Howard headed up the golf games, riding around with Eisenhower in the golf cart.

At Bailey's Beach, where he served as President and his family owned a cabana, he was always taking a swim. Newporters considered it a honor to be invited to take a tour of the island on the Cushing's lobster boat 'Dolphin', something which Presidents Eisenhower and Kennedy (both Newport residents) had the privilege of doing.

In 1950, he purchased the estate next door, 'The Rocks', which had been owned by the Clews family. Way back when the Cushings and Clews had had a run-on and the families had been cold to one another ever since. In a fitting finale to a 50 year grudge, Howard had the mansion demolished and the land incorporated into 'The Ledges'. Though he didn't seem to spend much time at his desk, he managed his assets well and ended up doubling his inherited fortune.

It was an unfortunate accident in 1977, when he fell down the porch steps of his Newport home and onto the gravel driveway. He was confided in a wheelchair for his remaining duration of life. A brand new elevator was installed off the entrance hall so he could easily access the upstair floors. In his last years his favorite thing to do was park his wheelchair in the green sunroom of 'The Ledges' and watch the sunset.

In April, days before his death, his sons Howard and Freddy lifted him out of his wheelchair, followed closely behind by Minnie, Mary and Thomas and the rest of their family, and carried him down to the 'Dolphin' and they all went out for one last boat ride to watch the sunset. He died surrounded by his very large family at his beloved 'The Ledges', the only house on Ocean Avenue still in the hands of descendants of the original occupants.