Leaving a Legacy: Cushman ’59 and Pam Andrews Support Scholarships

Cushman Andrews ’59 grew up in Norway, Maine, which is about 45 miles Northwest of Portland. It is in the foothills of the White Mountains. Norway was once known as the snowshoe capital of the world and the original home of Tubbs Snowshoe Company. Cush’s parents recognized that going away for high school could provide important lessons in responsibility and independence. His father was a close friend of Claude Allen, the Headmaster of nearby Hebron Academy, and Claude recommended that Cush attend Holderness School. Headmaster Don Hagerman was a friend of Claude’s from their Deerfield Academy days together.

At Holderness, Cush managed football and played basketball and baseball. He was on the staff of the Dial (yearbook) and Bull. He served as a floor leader and a member of the Student Council, as well as a member of the Acolytes.

Cush says, “The depth of commitment of the faculty, like Don Henderson, Dante Fiore, Edward Cayley and Loys Wiles, for each individual student was truly inspiring!”

Cush was a year late in graduating due to a bad bout with pneumonia. He attended Colby College for two years, in his home state, but unfortunately it did not turn out to be a good fit for him. His father informed him that he was now on his own to complete his education.

Don Hagerman suggested that Cush come back to Holderness to coach and to be a dorm parent to a

small group of students in upper Livermore. Don also recommended that Cush take classes at Plymouth State College, now Plymouth State University.

It was during this period that Cush developed a close relationship with Don Henderson. He worked alongside Don every day and assisted him with the ski team. “I admired his unbelievable work ethic and commitment to the ski team and to his students,” recalls Cush.

To this day, he and his wife, Pam, have remained close to Don’s widow, Pat. When they speak with one another, they share book recommendations. Cush also became close with Holderness teachers Joe Wennik and Bruce Haertl.

Later, Cush moved to Boston to complete his degree at Boston University, working multiple jobs at night to pay for school. He earned his Charter, Property, Casualty Underwriters designation in Insurance and completed the Advanced Management Program from Harvard. While at BU, Cush reconnected with his now-wife, Pam, who is also from the Norway/Paris area of Maine.

Cush went on to have a long and successful career at Marsh and McLennan, Inc., a worldwide insurance firm, and lived in Richmond, Indianapolis and Detroit. He and Pam later settled in the Chicago area, where Cush was responsible for Chicago and the Central Region of Marsh and McLennan’s US operations.

Cush and Pam have been active members of their community wherever they have lived. He has served as a Trustee of the Chicago Zoological Society, a worldrenowned center for Conservation and Education Programs. He is now a Life Trustee. Pam still serves on the Women’s Board of the Chicago Zoological Society and The League of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. The couple enjoys spending time at their summer home, on Lake Pennesseewassee, in Norway, Maine.

Cush has also served as a Class Agent for more than 10 years, as well as a Reunion planning volunteer for Holderness. He cites Headmaster Emeritus Pete Woodward for his reconnection to Holderness. Peter Barnum, over the years, has continued to foster the relationship with the school. Cush is a member of the Balch Legacy Society and has given to Holderness for over 50 years. During a dinner with classmates Chris Palmer, Jerry Ashworth, Steve Barndollar, Hugh Barndollar and their wives, there was an in-depth conversation about why giving to Holderness is so important. "This dinner was the catalyst that inspired us to take our support to the next level," Cush says. Cush and Pam support scholarships because they “help to attract the best students and support the school’s need for diversity.”

Approximately 40 percent of Holderness students receive financial aid, a number that is expected to increase steadily in the future. Scholarships make the Holderness experience accessible to students from families of all income levels. This helps the school build a dynamic and diverse community of learners, now and into the future.

Holderness is grateful to Cush and Pam for their leadership and enduring generosity, which will support Holderness students for generations to come. n