William W. Cushwa 1937-2020

Bill was born Aug. 15, 1937, in Youngstown, Ohio, to Charles B. Cushwa Jr. and Margaret Hall Cushwa. He spent significant time with his mother and brother, Charles B. Cushwa III, in Arizona and New Mexico to address the challenges of childhood asthma. During those trips, he and his brother hiked, swam, fished and learned to ride horses. Later in life, they traded horse riding for horsepower, with a love of auto racing and hours spent behind the wheel.

Bill graduated from Campion Jesuit High School in Prairie du Chien, Wis. and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Notre Dame in 1959. After a courtship that featured regular meetings at noon Mass and evenings at the theater, Bill married Anna Jean Schuler Feb. 4, 1961, at St. Columba Cathedral in Youngstown. He spent a year in New York City with his young family to pursue graduate studies at New York University in 1966 and 1967. Bill received an MBA from the Case Western Reserve University Weatherhead School of Management in 1975, commuting to Cleveland for evening classes while working full-time in Youngstown.

Bill retired from Commercial Intertech Corporation in 1997 after a 36-year career. He served in various roles within the company, beginning as a systems analyst before rising to assistant treasurer and vice president of planning.

Bill was an active volunteer in community and church organizations in Youngstown and South Bend, Ind. He cherished his time serving Saint Mary College; REAL Services LLC; the South Bend Symphony Orchestra Association; Friends of St. Joseph County Public Library; Walsh University in North Canton, Ohio; St. Elizabeth Hospital Medical Center in Youngstown; the Valley Health Network in Youngstown; Case Western Reserve University; Youngstown State University; Youngstown Area Urban League; the United Negro College Fund; Hospice of the Valley; and the Mahoning Valley Council of Churches. Other organizations that welcomed Bill’s help over the years were St. Columba Cathedral and the Diocese of Youngstown; Sacred Heart Parish and the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at the University of Notre Dame; Friends of South Bend Library; the South Bend Tribune Community Advisory Group; the Youngstown Area United Way; and the Notre Dame Alumni Association.

His greatest joys included family gatherings, traveling with family and friends, golfing, photography, cycling, walking, cooking, fine wines, worshipping with dear friends from St. Joseph Catholic Church in South Bend and St. Theresa Parish in Palm Springs, Calif. and engaging conversations. Annual visits to Cape Cod, Mass., Palm Springs, Calif. and the Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, were full of beauty, laughter and delicious treats.

Bill is survived by his beloved wife of 59 years, Anna Jean Schuler Cushwa; his children, Elizabeth Ann Cushwa (Dan Norris), William W. Cushwa Jr. (Elizebeth), Margaret Cushwa Haller (Herb Haller), David F. Cushwa (Sandy) and Anne Jennifer Cushwa; eight grandchildren; and one great-grandson.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Charles B. Cushwa III; and his sister, Mary Ellen Cushwa Wolsonovich.

A Mass of Christian burial and celebration of Bill’s life will be held on Sept. 26, 2020, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 226 N. Hill Street, South Bend, Ind.

The family would like to extend their deepest thanks to David Wyncott MD, for his compassionate care and attention to Bill. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions, in Bill’s name, may be sent to St. Joseph Catholic Church, 226 N. Hill Street, South Bend, IN 46617; or REAL Services, LLC, 1151 S. Michigan St., South Bend, IN 46601.

(special notice)