June 2, 1998
Patrick Gushue, landscape architect for state, dies at 54
WARWICK -- Patrick F. Gushue, 54, of Narragansett Parkway, chief landscape architect for the State of Rhode Island's Department of Environmental Management for 15 years, died Sunday at the Pawtuxet Village Nursing Home.
Mr. Gushue was the chief landscape architect for the Blackstone River Corridor and played major roles in Waterplace Park and the Providence Place mall project.
He also was active in the Boy Scouts of America for 42 years, beginning with the Boston Council. For five years, he served as subcamp director for the Narragansett Council's Camporees. He served as the health and safety director for the Massachusetts Jamboree in 1994 and was currently working on planning the 1999 event as well as writing the health and safety manuals for the coming jamboree.
He served as camp inspector for the New England Region and was a health and safety consultant for the National Council, Boy Scouts of America. He published numerous articles on health and safety and on scouting for the handicapped.
He had received many scouting awards, including the District Award of Merit, the Distinguished Commissioner's Award, the Eagle Scout Award and the Silver Beaver Award.
He also was the recipient of the Ad Altari Dei Roman Catholic Award.
Mr. Gushue was instrumental in assisting the State of Rhode Island Board of Registration with establishing licensing requirements for landscape architects, and was the state's seventh licensed landscape architect. He held licenses in seven other states and in four Canadian provinces.
He also served as director of parks and recreation in South County, retiring in 1997.
Formerly of the Dorchester section of Boston, he served on the Dorchester Lower Mills Civic Association from 1972-1985, and the Dorchester Lower Mills Historical Society from 1972-1985. He taught surveying at Franklin Institute and drafting at Don Bosco Technical High School, both in Boston, during the 1970s.
He had hosted a weekly genealogy forum on America On-Line for the last three years, and published historical timelines for both the North Atlantic and Newfoundland.
Mr. Gushue, who was born in Quincy, Mass., was a Navy veteran, serving in the SeaBees.
He leaves a companion, Janet Campbell of Warwick; two sons, Joseph A. Gushue of Burlington, Mass., and Patrick F. Gushue III of Jacksonville, Fla.; a daughter, Laura A. Gushue of Wellesley, Mass.; two brothers, John Gushue in Iowa and James J. Gushue of Weymouth, Mass.; a sister, Lorraine Van Gaasbeek of Jacksonville Beach, Fla.; his former wife, Carol Thompson of Woburn, Mass.; and two grandchildren.
The funeral will be held tomorrow at 9 a.m. from the Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, 5 Canton Ave., Milton, Mass., with a funeral Mass at 10 in St. Gregory Church, Dorchester. Burial will be in Forest Hills Cemetery, Boston.