Cusick’s son Ted says his father died at his home in Barnstable, Mass., early Tuesday after suffering from cancer.
“On behalf of the entire Bruins organization I’d like to extend my deepest sympathies to Fred’s family,” Bruins principal Charlie Jacobs said in a statement. “For 45 years, half his life, Fred was the voice of the Boston Bruins. His memory will certainly live on in the hearts and minds of all Bruins fans, as one cannot recall some of the greatest moments in the history of this club without hearing his voice.”
The Northeastern University graduate and World War II veteran served as the play-by-play radio voice for the Black and Gold from 1952-70. In 1971, Cusick began a 27-year stint as the Bruins’ television play-by-play broadcaster on WSBK-TV Channel 38.
Cusick joined the NESN team in 1984 — the same year he was both inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame and was the recipient of the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award “in recognition of members of the radio and television industry who made outstanding contributions to their profession and the game during their career in hockey broadcasting.”
Also the broadcaster of Boston Patriots games from 1960-64, Cusick was to be inducted into the Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Fame for his lifetime of involvement in the Boston sports market on Sept. 16, 2009 — just one day after his passing.
“Those fortunate enough to inherit the position Fred Cusick created are merely playing on the land he cleared,” NESN play-by-play man Jack Edwards said. “None of us ever will have the impact he had in generating the fan base for this team. Fred was passionate and willing to share how much the game thrilled him every night, and he drew us in with those qualities. We have lost a great pioneer.”
“What he was, was a Bruin,” added senior advisor to the owner, Harry Sinden. “He was absolutely an admired, respected and beloved member of the Bruins family for many years. He is a huge, huge part of Bruins history. There’s no doubt of the impact he had on the broadcasting of hockey. He was a pioneer and the way hockey games are broadcast really originated with Fred. A lot of the camera work that they use was at his suggestion. He had a number of ideas that he brought in and they still use.”
