BRISTOL — Edward Elijah Cushman of Bristol, Vt., died unexpectedly at home of natural causes on Oct. 6, 2020. He was born Nov. 3, 1953, in Middlebury, Vt., and was the son of Elisabeth “Libby” Kilbourn and Thomas Cushman.
Ed was a kind and loyal soul, and was quick to befriend anyone who was less fortunate than he. The neighbors enjoyed, or were at least amused by his lawn decorations. His dog, Carson, was a valuable part of his life and provided much companionship for him. Ed will be sorely missed by many people and the world is less enchanting by his leaving.
Ed graduated from Mount Abraham Union High School in 1972, having been a star athlete in soccer, basketball and baseball. He attended Paul Smith’s College, studying forestry. He spent many years working construction, and more recently worked at Autosport Imported Car Center in Williston and Foxman, Inc. Educational Services in Vergennes. With a free spirit, he traveled extensively throughout his life and made many friends around this country and the Caribbean Islands.
Ed is survived by his daughter, Alexandra Harper, her husband Jared and their son Evan of Bellingham, Wash. Ethan Ready of Lincoln, Vt., is a very special addition to his family and has always been his adoptive son. He is also survived by three siblings: Thomas Cushman II of Spanish Lake, Mo., and his wife Norma, and two sons, Thomas Joseph Cushman III of Spanish Lake, and Brian Cushman and his wife Erika and their daughter Olivia of Burbank, Calif.; two sisters, Mary Cushman and her children, Douglas Porter of Ashfield, Mass., and Elisabeth Porter of Greenfield, Mass., and Diane Cushman of Bristol and her children Anna Smith of Monkton, Vt., and Will Smith of Brooklyn, N.Y. He also has more than twenty first cousins and their families scattered across Vermont, the Carolinas and Florida. Ed was predeceased by his parents and several cousins.
A celebration of Ed’s life is planned by the family when the warm Vermont weather returns in the spring. Please travel with Ed’s spirit on his most recent journey. It promises to be delightful. It might even include a croquet game.◊