Don was born in Englewood on March 18, 1934. His parents were Colbert and Mabel Cushing. At age 3 his family moved to 3791 S. Sherman, which would become their home for the next 55 years.
He attended Lowell Elementary School at Hampden and Sherman streets. The Summers were full with swimming in Washington Park Lake and Old Timers Baseball.
Next came Junior High which was on the first floor with the High School on the second floor at the preset Flood building. Don played trumpet in the band, was in Junior Honor Society, and elected Head Boy during his 9th grade. He became involved in competitive swimming while spending most of his time at the Lions Club outdoor pool.
At Englewood High School, he participated in band, football and track. Living two blocks from school was good enough reason to get his first car during his senior year – a 1937 Chevrolet coupe. Summers were filled with competitive swimming, life guarding and fishing trips with brother Bert and his Dad.
College look him to Colorado A&M for the first ear and then the University of Denver. Don worked for tuition as manager of the football team. This became more fun than work and developed many lasting friendships. He graduated in 1956 with a B.A. degree in Education and later got his M.A. in 1962 from D.U. During the summer, he life guarded and coached some 80 youngsters on the Englewood Swim Club team.
In the fall of 1956, Don accepted a teaching position with Bent County Schools in Las Animas for $3,300 plus $600 for coaching three sports. That year included: shocking corn, branding and casting calves, living through a 54-hour dust storm that blocked out the sun, and thoroughly enjoying small town values.
The next year, Don signed a contract with Englewood Public Schools. For the next 32 years he would teach Physical Education, General Science, serve as Assistant Principal at Flood Middle School, and High School Athletic Director. During the first 11 years, Don coached cross country running and track. During this time, he started dating a student teacher at Sinclair Middle School. It didn’t take Don long to realize the Peggy Jones was the girl for him. They were married on December 26, 1964.
From that marriage was born sons, Joe (1967) and Jon (1970). Joe is now teaching in Jefferson County and Jon is teaching in Highlands Ranch. Jon and his wife, Stacy have blessed the family with two Grandchildren – Nathan and Kaitlyn.
Don’s interests had included: building and enjoying their cabin near Kenosha Pass, vacation trips with Peg and the family, involvement with Colorado Special Olympics, Friday ROMEO breakfasts, poker/golf with the boys, and the search for “that special” trout.
In 1998, Peg and Don sold their home of 31 years in Littleton and moved into a townhouse in Highlands Ranch.
Memorial Service, Sunday, February 28, 2016, 2:00pm, Horan & McConaty, 5303 East County Line Road in Centennial.
Memorial Donations suggested to Special Olympics Colorado, 384 Inverness Pkwy #100, Englewood, CO 80112 or Colorado Trout Unlimited, 1536 Wynkoop St. Denver, CO 80202