Joan Cushing joins her husband, Paul J. Buchbinder, in the afterlife as the playwright and political satirist passes away at 77.
Key Takeaways
- Joan Cushing, the famous political satirist and playwright, has expired after a battle with Parkinson’s disease.
- She unites with her husband, Paul J. Buchbinder, who perished on November 14, 2010.
- They were parents to three sons, Ben Buchbinder, Patrick Lavelle, and Chris Buchbinder.
Joan Cushing lit up the Washington theatrical scene with her energy and versatile talent.
As Mrs. Foggybottom, she captivated audiences for decades with her political satire, earning the nickname “The Clown of Powertown” from The Washington Post in 1987.
Cushing’s charm delighted crowds in cabaret shows in the 70s, 80s, and mid-90s. But she didn’t stop there.
For younger audiences, Cushing embarked on a new adventure crafting musicals for children.
Her 2001 adaptation of “Miss Nelson Is Missing!” for Imagination Stage cemented her status as a beloved figure for children.
Joan Cushing’s Husband Was A Veteran Turned Sales Representative
Joan Cushing departed on May 21, 2024, as confirmed by her family, due to Parkinson’s disease.
The news comes 13 years after her husband, Paul J. Buchbinder, passed away battling pancreatic cancer on November 14, 2010.
Paul was diagnosed with locally advanced pancreatic cancer on July 16, 2010. Joan dropped everything to care for her husband, but four months later, he took his last breath.
“Those four months were the hardest, most heartbreaking, and yet most intensely loving time of our twenty-five-year marriage,” said the playwright.
In an interview, Cushing expressed that creating a musical helped her cope with her loss,
Following my husband’s death, I started slowly to get my life back on track, and working on this musical became a healing experience. Now, I had something to say.
Joan Cushing
My whole world just turned upside down. I’ve had a really hard time, but doing these projects is saving me — keeps me going.
Joan Cushing
Her husband, Buchbinder, was a manufacturer’s representative for a furniture manufacturer company called Wall Goldfinger.
The graduate of Brown University was a veteran. During the Vietnam War, Paul served in the U.S. Navy.
The couple married around 1985 and were parents to three kids: Ben Buchbinder from their marriage and Patrick Lavelle & Chris Buchbinder from each of their former relationships.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Joan was raised among seven siblings, born to a pianist mom, Marie Donnelly Cushing, and PhD in Physics holder dad, Vincent Cushing.
- In 1969, she graduated from the University of Maryland.
- Following his mother’s footsteps, son Ben Buchbinder is also a New Orleans musician.
