Cush Anthony died at 5:30 am on August 12, 2026 with his wife, Maureen in the room.  He was a member of Durham Friends and previously at Portland Friends Meeting, as well as a former member of Allen Avenue UU Church.  He graduated from Amherst College in 1961 and received his J.D. from the University of Michigan in 1967.

Please keep Maureen and his children, Ellen and Tom, and their families in the Light.  He was a remarkable person and F/friend, and we remember him with love. 

Some snippets about Cushman Anthony from The Bangor Daily News. (We will update this with information from other sources soon.) His obituary has now been added below.

Cushman Anthony, a former Maine state legislator and longtime advocate for civil liberties, has often been recognized for his service to the state and its communities.

Recognition and Public Service

• Cushman Anthony was honored by the Maine Civil Liberties Union Foundation in 2011 with the Justice Louis Scolnik Award for his commitment to equality and justice, particularly for vulnerable populations.
• He served in the Maine House of Representatives from 1986 to 1992 and was the third president of the Maine Civil Liberties Union, where he championed issues like free speech and prisoners’ rights.

Legal and Community Work

• Anthony founded the Cumberland Legal Aid Clinic, which continues to assist low-income individuals with legal matters in southern Maine courts.
• He also served as chairman of the Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission, reflecting his dedication to tribal-state relations and equity.

Public Financing and Political Advocacy

• A strong supporter of Maine’s Clean Election system, Anthony emphasized its importance in leveling the political playing field for challengers and incumbents alike, urging legislative action to preserve its funding structure in 2011.

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Cush Anthony Obituary

Cushman Dodge Anthony left this world on Wednesday August 12, 2026.  His wife, Maureen, was at his side.

Cush was a highly respected lawyer, mediator and advocate.   He was always spiritually motivated.  He lived his life by the Quaker saying:

“I shall pass this way but once; any good, therefore, that I can do, let me do it now. Let me not deter or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.”

Cushman was born in Boston, MA on October 14, 1939 in Boston to Julian D. Anthony and Eleanor Hopkins Anthony.  He was the youngest of four children. His siblings were Dan, Steve, and Caroline. He attended Newton,MA schools. After the last day of school in June,  the Anthony family returned to the beloved Hamblen Farm in Wellfleet, MA. Hamblen Farm was established in 1797 by Cornelius Hamblen, an ancestor of Eleanor Hopkins Anthony. Cush always considered it home. It remains in the extended Anthony family and is a place cherished by all.

 He graduated from Amherst College, Amherst, MA ( B.A. cum laude, 1961). He was a member of Phi Alpha Psi, Commodore of the sailing club, and a member of the track team. After Amherst , he attended Harvard University for a Master of Arts in Teaching program but quickly decided that he was not  made to spend his time in a classroom. After leaving Harvard he was about to be drafted.  He applied and was accepted into the United States Navy  Officers Candidate School and was commissioned on April 13, 1962. as a LTJG . He was assigned to the USS William V. Pratt., a Farragut – class guided missile warship. This was the era of the Viet Nam war and this experience shaped his objection to all war. He was honorably discharged in March 1965, and became a dedicated pacifist.

Cush graduated from the University of Michigan School of Law (J.D. cum laude, 1967.)

His law career was varied.  He worked briefly at a prestigious law firm in Portland, Maine.  He soon realized that he had to tend to the many men who were trying to achieve Conscientious Objector status and who shared his belief that war was wrong.  He successfully defended many for contributions ; he never billed them for his services. He opened a solo private practice and later partnered with Bill Howison and Hayden in 1988 and expanded with Peter Landis and Cynthia Arn. Their partnership lasted for many years and remains active today.

2002 brought Cush to focus more intently on mediation and conflict resolution.  He served on several committees and panels that fostered mediation and conflict resolution as a way to bring satisfactory closure to any situations. The legislature appointed him to the Maine Interim Advisory Committee on Alternative Dispute Resolution in the Public Sector. He also was Chair of the Judicial Branch Alternative Dispute Resolution Planning and Implementation Committee. He received the first Justice Louis Scolnik Award from the Maine Civil Liberties Union on May 12, 2011. This award recognizes individuals who make outstanding contributions to advancing civil rights and liberties in Maine.

Cush was always close to the ideas and attempts to bring peace to all by the Quaker faith.   He was asked to teach mediation and dispute resolution by the African Great Lakes Initiative of the Friends Peace Teams to the citizens of Burundi and Rwanda. Both countries had experienced war and genocide.He traveled there and was met with resistance and endured very poor living conditions and felt  unsafe much of the time.  He ended his stay earlier than intended and felt defeated.

Cush attended the A2- U2 church during his marriage to Karen Hart Reese. It was not a surprise to anyone that Cush did anything he was asked to do.  He helped raise funds, chaired the social justice Committee, and was a member of the Board. His  participation in A2-U2 led him to a seat on the Maine Council of Churches, and he eventually became Board chair.

The Maine Indian Tribal – State Commission is an important part of the life that Cush believed should be available to all.  He saw flaws in the Settlement Act of 1980 and wanted Maine Indian tribes to be able to experience the benefits that other Native Tribes across America did. Changes that the Commission recommendations were thwarted either by the legislature.   

As a co-founder of Furniture Friends, Cush showed how very dedicated he was to ensuring each and every person experiencing poverty had beds, bureaus, tables and chairs to furnish their bare apartments.  Furniture Friends has provided gently used items to over 16,000 individuals since it was founded in 2015.

It is impossible to enumerate all of the awards and accolades Cush received during his very active life.

Cush is survived by his wife,Maureen Anthoine, his first wife Carol Jane Van Landingham and their children , Thomas H Anthony  of Moscow, Russia, and Ellyn Anthony Leamon  of Richmond, VT.  He is also survived by the children of Ellyn, Alex and Jacob Leoman and the children of Thomas ,Sasha,Stephen and Robert of New York City, and Andre and Katyusha of Moscow, Russia. He is also survived by two stepsons, Michael and Brian Reese.

Cush was predeceased by his parents and his siblings.  He was also predeceased by his second wife, Karen Hart Reese.  Karen is the mother of Michael and Brian Reese.

Cushion was a man of exceptional character; one who will be loved and revered always.

On October 10th at 1pm, we invite all who knew, admired and loved Cush to an Afternoon of Gratitude at the Portland Friends Meeting House located at 1837 Forest Ave. Portland, Maine 04103.  

In lieu of flowers please consider donating to Furniture Friends , the Friends Committee on National Legislation or a charity  that represents the values held by Cushman.