Retired
Significant Dog: Scrappy
Information update: 01/24/2020

My word! Has it been 50 years? It seems just yesterday I was shy and retiring and now I am not quite so shy, but definitely retired.

Went to UMD, and graduated in 1965 with a teaching degree in art, minor in art history.

Taught for a few years until my dream job came up and I leaped at it; it was working at the Duluth Children's Museum (Then known as the A.M. Chisholm Museum) as the Curator of Education, Exhibits and Collections; in other words, the "Curator of Quite A Lot". Very fun times, lots of school class visitors, neighborhood children, and working with a wonderful collection of objects from around the world, all housed in a 1904 home.

When the Duluth community saved the empty 1892 Union Depot in downtown Duluth and converted it into an arts and cultural center, the Children's Museum became a member organization. I quickly learned as the Director and Curator, how much fun it was to pack up the museum (over 12,000 objects) and take it on the road from 1832 East Second Street to 506 West Michigan Street. An amazing experience to say the least: it took lots of trips in lots of vehicles, driven by staff, lots of volunteers and Board members, until it came down to the really, really big and heavy stuff, then it was time for the big moving vans. Everyone helped to unload, sort and store everything, until exhibits could be created. And the rest, as they say, is history; for me. forty years to be exact. Over those years, I was indeed honored to be asked to serve on the Minnesota State Arts Board Folk Arts Panel, and, again honored when invited to be a national reviewer for small museums by the Institute of Museum Services. During my time with the Children's Museum, I was actively involved with the Minnesota Association of Museums and the Midwest Museum Association, meeting colleagues from every facet of museum operations. I retired in December of 2008, and now spend my time as a volunteer for Essentia Health's Miller-Dwan Rehabilitation Center (serving on the Patient/Family/Care Partner Advisory Board and as a Peer Visitor to current stroke/brain injured patients. For the last several years I have volunteered for Animal Allies Humane Society (serving on their Humane Education Committee, helping with fundraising events, fostering dogs, socializing young dogs and giving care to elderly dogs. Plus it is great fun to actually have time to: spend with family and friends and my dog, continue my life-long interest in rocks and minerals by looking for the next (and possibly the best agate or rock ever), dabbling in arts projects and, of course, reading-reading-reading.

Bonnie Cusick
Nov. 4, 1943 - Jan. 24, 2020

DULUTH, Minn. - Bonnie Cusick, 76, Duluth, Minn., died Friday, Jan. 24, in St. Mary's Hospital.

Visitation will be from 10-11 a.m., followed by a memorial service at 11 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 15, at Dougherty Funeral Home in Duluth.

Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home.