Michael J. Cusack, 74, a former stagehand for Chicago television shows and a former part-time police officer in South Barrington, died of a heart attack Monday, Jan. 20, in Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights. Mr. Cusack was born and raised on Chicago’s West Side and lived in Arlington Heights for the last 42 years. He studied religion at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa. For five years, he was a Viatorian brother and taught religion at a Catholic school in Springfield, but “that life was not for him,” said his wife, Carol. He returned to Chicago and followed his father and uncle, both longtime stagehands who had worked on many vaudeville shows, into the family business, joining the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees. In roughly 40 years as a stagehand, Mr. Cusack set lights, props and sets for theater and television. He worked behind the scenes in most of Chicago’s major live theaters and for television shows including “The Phil Donahue Show” and “The Ray Rayner Show.” He was an original stagehand for “Bozo’s Circus.” “He was a very fortunate person to be able to go to work every day and have such a ball,” his wife said. He spent much of his career at WGN-TV, working the 5:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. shift. In the early 1970s, Mr. Cusack became a part-time police officer. He started in Schaumburg and worked briefly for departments in Roselle and Bloomingdale before joining the South Barrington Police Department, where he stayed for about 15 years until his retirement in the late 1980s. Mr. Cusack remained a stagehand until 1993. His two occupations required someone who was “very flexible,” his wife said. Mr. Cusack also enjoyed fishing, “whether he caught anything or not,” and spending time with his family, his wife said. He was a supporter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society. Other survivors include a son, Michael; a daughter, Suann; a sister, Sister Mary Therese; and a granddaughter. Visitation will be held from 3 to 9 p.m. Friday in Friedrichs Funeral Home, 320 W. Central Rd., Mt. Prospect. Prayers will be said at 8:45 a.m. Saturday in the funeral home, followed by a mass at 9:30 a.m. in Our Lady of the Wayside Catholic Church, 434 W. Park St., Arlington Heights.
