Ralph J. Cusick, 69, a Chicago public school principal for 28 years, died Friday of cancer in his Rogers Park home.
Most recently, Mr. Cusick was principal of Schurz High School, where he led a school reform effort and planned the restoration of the school’s landmark building before retiring in 1993.
In his many years with the Chicago public schools, Mr. Cusick always tried to remain upbeat, despite some challenging days in a struggling school system. One of his most trying times was while he was principal at Waller High School (now Lincoln Park High School) during the turbulent 1960s.
It was a difficult time of student protests and racial unrest, but Mr. Cusick remained committed to his job, as he did throughout his career, said his wife, Peggy Cusick.
“He loved what he did and he did his best at a tough job that a lot of people wouldn’t even try.”
Mr. Cusick began his career with the Chicago Board of Education in 1954 as a teacher at Grant School on the West Side. He became principal of Tanner Elementary School in 1965 and was an early leader of the Head Start program in Chicago by coordinating five summer program sites in the 1960s.
He later became principal of Cooley Vocational High School and Waller High School, and in 1978, he became director of the Washburne Trade School. He became Schurz principal in 1986.
Sharon Rae Bender, Schurz’s current principal, said Mr. Cusick worked hard to update the school’s computer equipment to ensure that students could compete with suburban students.
“He was a wonderful man who loved students and always went the extra mile to make sure students received a good education,” she said.
Besides his wife, Mr. Cusick is survived by five sons, William, Ralph Jr., Daniel, John and James; a daughter, Ann Spittle; and nine grandchildren.
Visitation will be held from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday at the John E. Maloney Funeral Home, 1359 W. Devon Ave., Chicago. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Ignatius Church, 6559 N. Glenwood Ave., Chicago.