Alexander Cushing
Born
Alexander Cochrane Cushing

(1913-11-28)November 28, 1913
New York, New York, U.S.
DiedAugust 19, 2006(2006-08-19) (aged 92)
Newport, Rhode Island, U.S.
EducationGroton School
Alma materHarvard College
Harvard Law School
OccupationLawyer
Spouses
Justine Cutting
​
​
(m. 1938; div. 1965)​
    Elizabeth Woodward Pratt
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1970; died 1985)​
      Nancy Wendt
      ​
      ​
      (m. 1987)​
      Parent(s)Howard Gardiner Cushing
      Ethel Cochrane

      Alexander Cochrane Cushing (November 28, 1913 – August 19, 2006) was a lawyer who founded Squaw Valley Ski Resort in California.[1][2]

      Early life

      Alexander Cochrane Cushing was born on November 28, 1913, in New York City. He was the son of Howard Gardiner Cushing (1869–1916),[3] a well-known artist[4] who died when Cushing was three years old, and Ethel (née Cochrane) Cushing (1882–1948), who had poor health most of her life.[5] His older sisters were Olivia Dulaney Cushing (1904–1908), and Lily Emmet Cushing (1909–1969),[6][7] an artist.[8][9] His older brother, Howard Gardiner Cushing Jr. (1906–1979), married Mary Callender Ames (1908–1982), daughter of Frederick Lothrop Ames Jr.[10][11][12]

      In 1925,[13] his mother remarried to James Denison Sawyer (1875–1943),[11] a Wall Street stock broker.[14][15] As a child, he lived at a home on East 70th Street, in a house designed by his godfather, William Delano.[16]

      His paternal grandparents were Robert Maynard Cushing (1836–1907), a wealthy Boston tea merchant who was a son of John Perkins Cushing (1787–1862),[17] and Olivia (née Dulany) Cushing.[3] His uncle was Grafton Dulaney Cushing.[13] His maternal grandparents were Alexander S. Cochrane (1840–1919),[18][19] and Mary Lynde (née Sullivan) Cochrane (1851–1918). His maternal aunt, Margaret Cochrane,[20] married F. Murray Forbes,[13] a Boston banker.[21] His first cousin, Alexander Cochrane Forbes was married to Irene Helen Robbins, the daughter of Warren Delano Robbins.[22]

      Due to the early death of his father and his mother's health issues,[23] Cushing spent much of his young life at boarding school, attended the Groton School, graduated from Harvard University in 1936, and then Harvard Law School three years later in 1939.[1][5]

      Career

      Following his graduation from law school, he practiced for three years, working at the U.S. State Department, upon the recommendation of Groton classmate, Stewart Alsop,[17] and briefly at the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., where he argued a case before the United States Supreme Court. He left public service and then worked at Davis Polk.[24]

      Following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was a member of the first officer training class at Quonset Point. During the War, he served with the Naval Air Transport Service in South America and the Pacific for five years, eventually retiring as a Lieutenant Commander upon the end of the War.[24]

      After his service, he returned to the practice of law, with Davis Polk in New York City, for nine months following the war.[5][17]

      Squaw Valley

      During a ski vacation to Sierra Nevada, Cushing visited Squaw Valley, which is seven miles from the north shore of Lake Tahoe.[17] He decided that its possibilities as a ski resort were great, so he went into partnership to develop it with Wayne Poulsen, a pilot and former champion skier who had purchased much of the valley's land, 640 acres (2.6 km2), in the 1940s from Union Pacific Railroad and first showed it to him.[2] Cushing invested $145,000 of his own money, as well as $275,000 from Laurence Rockefeller and other investors, and founded the Squaw Valley Ski Resort in 1949.[5]

      Beginning in 1954, Cushing began lobbying the International Olympic Committee to host the eighth Winter Olympics entirely at Squaw Valley.[25] He eventually won his bid, and Squaw Valley hosted the 1960 Winter Olympics, beating out the well established St. Moritz, Switzerland, and Innsbruck, Austria. Due to his efforts, he was on the cover of Time magazine in 1959.[16]

      Squaw Valley is one of the largest ski areas in the United States and is the second-largest ski area in Lake Tahoe with 3,600 acres (15 km2) and the only funitel in the U.S.[26] attracting approximately 600,000 skiers a year.[27]

      Personal life

      Cushing was married three times. His first marriage was in 1938[28][29] to Justine Bayard Cutting (1918–2003),[30][31] the daughter of Dr. Robert Bayard "Fulton" Cutting (1886–1967) and Mary Josephine Armory (1887–1971).[30] Her father was a first cousin of Justine Bayard Cutting Ward (1879–1975). Her grandfather, Robert Cutting (1852-1934), was the brother of William Bayard Cutting (1850–1912) and the son of Elise Justine Bayard (1823–1853), and served as the president of Cooper Union School of Architecture and Engineering and chairman of the Metropolitan Opera Association.[32] Before their divorce in 1965, they had three daughters together:[2] Justine Bayard Cushing, a decorator;[33][34][35] Lily Cushing, who married Janek Kunczynski, who founded Lift Engineering;[36] and Alexandra Olivia Cochrane Cushing, who married Philip King Howard, an attorney with Covington & Burling and the son of Rev. John R. Howard, in 1972. Howard is a descendant of Josiah Bartlett, a signer of the Declaration of Independence.[37]

      His second marriage was to Elizabeth Ogden (née Woodward) Pratt (1907–1985), the daughter of William Woodward Sr. (1876–1953) and Elizabeth Ogden "Elsie" Cryder (1882–1981),[38][39] and the sister of William Woodward Jr. (1920–1955). She was first married to Robert Livingston Stevens Jr. (1907–1972).[40] After their divorce in 1935,[41] he married Grace Vanderbilt (d. 1964).[42][43] Her second marriage was to John Teele Pratt Jr. (1903–1969),[44] which lasted until his death in 1969.[45]

      In 1985, while she was providing legal counsel regarding development land issues at the base of Squaw Valley, he met his third and final wife, Nancy R. Wendt. They married in 1987 and remained married to until his death in 2006. Wendt, who had also spent her third year of law school at Harvard, received her law degree from the University of South Carolina in 1975.[5][46][47]

      Cushing died on August 19, 2006, at his summer home in Newport, Rhode Island.[1][24]

      Descendants

      His granddaughter, Charlotte Iris Cushing Howard, married Daniel Robert Osnoss, both graduates of Yale, in 2012.[48]

      Honors

      In 1999, Cushing was inducted into the Ski Industry Hall of Fame for his lifetime contribution to the sport.[5]

      References

      1. 1 2 3 McLellan, Dennis (23 August 2006). "Alexander Cushing". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 16 December 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
      2. 1 2 3 Martin, Douglas (22 August 2006). "Alexander Cushing, 92, Dies; Turned Squaw Valley Into World-Class Skiing Destination". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 16 December 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
      3. 1 2 "HOWARD G. CUSHING DEAD; Portrait Painter Is Found Lifeless in Bed – His Career". The New York Times. 27 April 1916. Archived from the original on 25 August 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
      4. ↑ "Paintings of Howard Gardiner Cushing". The New York Times. 24 January 1909. Archived from the original on 25 August 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
      5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "The Old Man and the Mountain - Harvard Law Today". Harvard Law Today. April 1, 2003. Archived from the original on 25 December 2015. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
      6. ↑ "Obituary 1 – BOYD". The New York Times. 22 September 1969. Archived from the original on 25 August 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
      7. ↑ "Lily Cushing". americanart.si.edu. Smithsonian American Art Museum. Archived from the original on 25 August 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
      8. ↑ Times, Special To The New York (13 July 1971). "Mrs. Alexandra E. Allan Wed To Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 26 August 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
      9. ↑ "Lily Emmet Cushing papers, 1929-1972". aaa.si.edu. Smithsonian Archives of American Art. Archived from the original on 26 August 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
      10. ↑ "MISS AMES AND FIANCE BREAK ENGAGEMENT; Mutual Agreement With Howard G. Cushing Not to Marry". The New York Times. 27 April 1929. Archived from the original on 25 August 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
      11. 1 2 "MARY C. AMES WED TO H.G. CUSHING; Only Relatives and Intimate Friends at Ceremony in the Chantry of St. Thomas's. CHIMES RING FOR COUPLE Vested Choir Takes Past in Wedding—Small Reception at Homeof the Bride's Mother. The Decorations. Bride in Gown of Peach Gold Satin. Some of the Guests". The New York Times. 19 January 1930. Archived from the original on 25 August 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
      12. ↑ Roberts, Gary Boyd (1983). Genealogies of Connecticut Families: From the New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Genealogical Publishing Co. p. 667. ISBN 9780806310305. Archived from the original on 16 December 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
      13. 1 2 3 Times, Special To The New York (5 June 1925). "WEDS MRS. H. G. CUSHING; James D. Sawyer of This City Is Married In Wellesley, Mass". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 16 December 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
      14. ↑ "JAMES D. SAWYER; Partner in Eastman, Dillon &. Co., Brokers, Long in Wall St". The New York Times. 20 September 1943. Archived from the original on 16 December 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
      15. ↑ "STOCK EXCHANGE NOTES". The New York Times. 6 November 1943. Archived from the original on 16 December 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
      16. 1 2 Miller, Stephen (August 22, 2006). "Alexander Cushing, 92, Resolute Founder of Squaw Valley". New York Sun. Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
      17. 1 2 3 4 O'Coughlin, Seamus (2001). Squaw Valley Gold: American Hockey's Olympic Odyssey. iUniverse. ISBN 9780595200870. Archived from the original on 16 December 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
      18. ↑ "SEARS – COCHRANE". The New York Times. 25 November 1891. Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
      19. ↑ Times, Special To The New York (4 October 1914). "REPELS BRIBERY CHARGES.; Cochrane Files a Demurrer in the $102,000,000 New Haven Suit". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
      20. ↑ Times, Special To The New York (4 June 1903). "Forbes--Cochrane". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
      21. ↑ Times, Special To The New York (25 November 1961). "F. MURRAY FORBES, EX-BOSTON BANKER". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
      22. ↑ Times, Special To The New York (11 February 1934). "BRILLIANT BRIDAL FOR IRENE ROBBINS; Daughter of Our Minister to Canada Married in Ottawa to Alexander Forbes. MRS, J. ROOSEVELT THERE President's Mother and Officials Greet Couple After Taking of Vows in Archbishop's Palace". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
      23. ↑ Times, Special To The New York (5 October 1916). "ARTIST LEFT $257,945 | Howard Gardiner Cushing Gave All of His Estate to His Wife". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 16 December 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
      24. 1 2 3 "Alexander C. Cushing". NewportRI.com. August 22, 2006. Archived from the original on 16 December 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
      25. ↑ "Squaw Valley 1960 Winter Olympics". Olympics. Archived from the original on May 24, 2016. Retrieved June 20, 2017.
      26. ↑ "Lift World: Lift-Database - Funitels". Seilbahntechnik. Archived from the original on February 10, 2012. Retrieved June 20, 2017.
      27. ↑ "About Squaw Valley". The Wanderlust Festival. Archived from the original on December 17, 2014. Retrieved June 20, 2017.
      28. ↑ "JUSTINE CUTTING ENGAGED TO WED; Her Betrothal to Alexander Cushing, Son of Artist, is Announced Here HAS STUDIED AT FOXCROFT Prospective Bridegroom, Who Is Graduate of Harvard, Now Law Student". The New York Times. 19 November 1938. Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
      29. ↑ Times, Special To The New York (18 December 1938). "Justine Cutting Wed to Student; Sister Is Honor Attendant at Marriage to A. C. Cushing of Harvard Law School GOWNED IN BROCADE". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
      30. 1 2 Taylor, Michael (November 26, 2003). "Justine Cushing – helped found Squaw Valley". SFGate. Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
      31. ↑ "Paid Notice: Deaths CUSHING, JUSTINE BAYARD (NEE CUTTING)". The New York Times. 20 November 2003. Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
      32. ↑ "FULTON CUTTING, N. Y. REAL ESTATE HEAD, DIES AT 82". Chicago Tribune. September 22, 1934. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
      33. ↑ Goodman, Wendy (April 24, 2014). "A Barn in Gatsby Country". New York. Archived from the original on 6 November 2015. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
      34. ↑ Pittel, Christine (7 April 2014). "Designing with Classic Chintz". House Beautiful. Archived from the original on 18 July 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
      35. ↑ King, Barbara; Mortimer, Senga (11 May 2015). "A Stylishly, Exuberant Apartment That Has Stood the Test of Time". House Beautiful. Archived from the original on 21 March 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
      36. ↑ "The History of Yanek Kunczynski". Colorado Ski History. The Wall Street Journal. 16 January 1997. Archived from the original on 19 September 2010. Retrieved 30 July 2010.
      37. ↑ Times, Special To The New York (24 November 1972). "Miss Cushing Is Bride Of Philip King Howard". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
      38. ↑ Farber, M. A. (14 July 1981). "ELSIE C. WOODWARD, PHILANTHROPIST, DIES AT 98". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 20 August 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
      39. ↑ "Elsie Woodward, the mother of the wealthy racehorse owner..." UPI. July 13, 1981. Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
      40. ↑ "MISS E. WOODWARD WEDS R.L. STEVENS; Large Gathering of Society at the Ceremony in St. Thomas's Church. REV. DR. BROOKS OFFICIATES Elaborate Floral Decorations and Full Choral Service—Reception at Bride's Home". The New York Times. 3 February 1928. Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
      41. ↑ Times, Special To The New York (14 August 1935). "R.L. STEVENS DIVORCED.; Mrs. Elizabeth O.W. Stevens Gets Reno Decree, Charging Cruelty". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
      42. ↑ Times, Special To The New York (17 July 1972). "Robert Stevens, 65, Dies; A Financier and Investor". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 23 January 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
      43. ↑ "MRS. R. L. STEVENS, A SOCIETY FIGURE". The New York Times. 29 January 1964. Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
      44. ↑ Times, Special To The New York (5 September 1935). "J. T. PRATT JR. WEDS MRS. E. W. STEVENS; Cemony Performed at Home of Bride's Parent, the William Woodwards, in Wheatley Hills". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
      45. ↑ "John T. Pratt Jr., 65, Is Dead; Institute Trustee and Bank A icle". The New York Times. 21 June 1969. Archived from the original on 17 October 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
      46. ↑ Rock, Susan D. (December 2, 2010). "Q&A With Nancy Wendt Cushing". Retrieved 20 June 2017.
      47. ↑ McHugh, Paul (March 22, 2007). "Widow retains Squaw Valley vision / Resort's owner hopes it can stay independent". SFGate. Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
      48. ↑ "Charlotte Howard, Daniel Osnoss --Weddings". The New York Times. 29 July 2012. Archived from the original on 30 May 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
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