Victor Cushwa

Victor Cushwa IV (1925 – August 19, 1991) was a Democratic state senator representing Legislative District 2 in Western Maryland. In his 13 years as a member of the state Senate, he served as majority whip and chairman of the Rules Committee. He also served on the Constitutional and Public Law, Economic Affairs, and Finance committees. In 1989, Cushwa joined several other senators in a filibuster to block an abortion-rights bill, which eventually fell one vote shy of passing.[1]

Victor Cushwa
Member of the Maryland Senate from the 2nd district
In office 1978 – January 1991
Preceded by	John P. Corderman
Succeeded by	Patricia Cushwa[1] Donald F. Munson[2]
Public Service Commission
In office July 1990 – 1991
Personal details
Born	1925 (1925) Hagerstown, U.S.
Died	August 19, 1991(1991-08-19) (aged 65–66) Hagerstown, Maryland, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Patricia Pascoe Cushwa
Alma mater	Georgetown University
Military career
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	U.S. Navy
Battles/wars	World War II

Governor William Donald Schaefer appointed Cushwa to a five-year term on the state's utility-regulating Public Service Commission in July 1990 after Cushwa resigned from his state Senate seat. About a year after his appointment, Victor Cushwa died from lung cancer at Washington County Hospital in Hagerstown at the age of 66; he continued his duties on the commission until shortly before his death.[3]

Born in Hagerstown, Cushwa served in the Navy in the Pacific during World War II. He graduated from Georgetown University in 1948, and later served for 20 years as production manager of the Cushwa Brick Co. in Williamsport. The Victor Cushwa Memorial Bridge at Sideling Hill in Western Maryland is named in his honor.