Brian Hight Cushing, 71, of Bridgton, passed away on Wednesday, October 18, 2023 after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. He was surrounded by family and received an outpouring of love from the community in his final days.

Brian was born on November 24, 1951, in Hempstead, Long Island, N.Y. He was raised in Maine, his family residing at various times
in Mount Vernon, Cape Elizabeth, Winthrop, Round Pound, and
Windham. Brian had an intimate connection to the Maine coast
from an early age, spending summers on Cliff Island where he had strong family ties.

After graduating from Winthrop High School in 1970, Brian attended the University of Maine at Orono where he studied Political Science. He considered law school before turning to teaching, a profession that Brian was dedicated to for over four decades. Later in life, he pursued a master’s degree in education from the University of Maine at Orono.

Brian was a lifelong learner. He taught in various capacities, ranging from primary school to university level instruction, and consulted for the Maine Department of Education. Brian’s educational passions were world cultures and geography. He actively sought out international travel opportunities. This enhanced his classroom teaching and inspired him to share cultural experiences first-hand with his students through trips to Asia and Europe. Brian spent half of his career as a Social Studies teacher at Lake Region High School and half as an elementary educator. Many of his summers were spent on senior staff at Camp Chewonki in Wiscasset. Until shortly before his passing, he taught third grade at the Molly Ockett School in Fryeburg and Social Studies Methods at St. Joseph’s College in Standish, finding it difficult to give up the profession he loved.

Brian’s passions for travel and teaching were matched by his love for family, nature, and the outdoors. He had unbounding love for his parents, Frank and Eunice, and an unswerving devotion to his wife, Mary. He was also an avid birder and canoer. Hikes with his black lab Moxie were one of his biggest joys. He was a reliable yearly presence at Maine Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count. From childhood, Brian was a man of deep faith and developed into a leader in his church community. People who knew him will never forget his bright smile.

Brian was predeceased by his brother Frank Jr. and his parents Eunice and Frank Sr.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Stinchfield, his daughter Emily, his son Jonathan and wife Erika, his son Timothy and fiancée Midori, his granddaughter Eloise, his grandson John (“Jack”) Hight, his sisters Irma, Anne, and Mary, his sister-in-law Disa, and many cousins, nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.

Visiting hours at the Hall Funeral Home in Casco will be held on Friday, October 27, from 5-7 p.m. A Celebration of Life will be held at the First Congregational Church in Bridgton on Saturday, October 28 at 11 a.m. followed by a reception in the Fellowship Hall.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Lakes Environmental Association (LEA) of Bridgton, the Bridgton First Congregational Church, or a charity of choice. Condolences and tributes may be shared at www.hallfuneralhome.net.

The Celebration of Life will also be streamed online on the church’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/FirstCongregationalChurchBridgtonUcc. The stream will go live at 10:50 a.m., and the recording will be available to view after the service at the same link.