Carl J. Kusch

November 29, 1925 - March 01, 2010

Carl Kusch obit

Carl J. Kusch of Foxboro died Monday, March 1, following many years of dedicated public service and community volunteer activities that included 20 years as Chairman of the Foxborough Historical Commission and 18 years as Veterans Agent for the Town of Foxborough.
A native of Saugus, he came to Foxboro 55 years ago while serving in the United States Navy Submarine Corps, attaining the rank of Torpedoman’s Mate Second Class. He was the recipient of the American Area Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal and the Occupation Service Medal. Following his military service, he became a member of the Lawrence W. Foster Post 93, American Legion in Foxboro, serving in a variety of positions including that of Commander and heading up many projects for veterans, their families and the community.
Immediately following the war, he worked for the former Foxboro Coal and Oil Co. on Wall Street before joining the United States Postal Service. He would rise to the position of Postmaster, one of the first two individuals appointed nationally under the new merit system. He retired in 1980 but not before he was ceremoniously “tarred and feathered” as the ranking federal official in town during the town’s Bicentennial celebration of 1978.
He was a member of the Bicentennial Committee and the longest serving member of the Founder’s Day Committee which he chaired for many years while helping to plan the annual parade and activities at Booth Field.
A long list of town positions included serving on the Municipal Parking Committee, Zoning Notice Committee, Council for Human Services, the Post Office Relocation Committee, Criminal Justice Citizens Advisory Committee and the Historic District Study Committee.
Many hours were spent providing services to veterans and their families as well as helping to arrange volunteer drivers under the FISH program for individuals needing transportation to medical appointments. Through his activities on behalf of veterans, Carl was instrumental in moving the town’s World War I monument from the traffic island opposite Memorial Hall to its present location on the Common, and the erection of memorials for those who served in Korea, Vietnam, Lebanon, Granada, Panama and the Persian Gulf.
An opportunity that meant a great deal to Carl was to participate in hosting volunteers in the Wreaths Across America as they made a stop-over at Gillette Stadium on their journey from Maine to Arlington National Cemetery to place Christmas wreaths on the thousands of graves located there.
The Boy Scouts of America honored Carl in 2009 with a Good Scout award in recognition of his many years of assisting local Scouts with their Eagle Projects in the community. He was also recognized by his colleagues on the Foxborough Historical Commission for his work on the Paine School project, moving the remaining original one-room school houses to a new location behind Town Hall and for his years as Chairman of the Commission when he stepped down in 2009 and was named Chairman Emeritus.

Carl was born in Saugus Sept. 29, 1925, son of the late Estelle and Daily Kusch. Married to the late Elizabeth Randall Kusch of Foxboro, he is survived by his daughter, Carla Cyr and her husband, Christopher Cyr of Foxboro, and his son, Keith Kusch, also of Foxboro, three grandchildren, Shaun, Kristin and Virginia Cyr, and two great grandchildren, Cameron Sears and Adriana Cyr, all of Foxboro. He is also survived by his companion, Ardis Hare of Sharon, his sister, Lila Bovion of Saugus and his brother, James Kusch of Peabody. He is predeceased by three sisters, Hazel Rielly, Stella Mortison and Alta Spousta and three brothers, Charles, Lloyd and Ernest Kusch.

Funeral Information

Calling hours have been scheduled for Friday, 4 to 8 p.m. at Roberts and Sons Funeral Home, 30 South St. Burial will be at the Bourne National Cemetery at a later date.

Donations Information

Memorial donations in Carl’s name can be made to Wreaths Across America, P. O. Box 256, Harrington, ME 04643