O. R. “Dick” Cummings died January 15, 2013 at Catholic Medical Center. He was born in Newburyport, Massachusetts on May 17, t923. He wasthe son of Orrin E. and Mary [AudleyJ Cummings and was a resident of the
Newburyport-Amesbury-Salisbury area for more than 30 years.
He was a 1940 graduate of Amesbury High School, attended Bates College for two
years and was graduated from the Bentley School of Accounting and Finance, now
Bentley College, in 1948. He was employed by the Newburyport Daily News as a
reporter from 1948 to 1956 when he joined the newsroom staff of the Manchester
Union Leader. He was a copy editor at the time of his retirement in January L987.
Cummings served in the U. S. Coast Guard for three years during World War II and in
the U. S. Navy for nearly a year during the Korean Conflict. He was a member of
Manchester Post 79, American Legion; Washington Lodge, 61, F &AM, and the
Manchester Historic Association.
As an avocation Cummings wrote and published numerous histories of the New
England street railway systems. He was a longtime member of the New England
Electric Railway Historical Society, Inc., owner of the Seashore Trolley Museum at
Kennebunkport, ME, and served a term as chairman of its board of trustees. He also
belonged to the 470 Railroad Club of Portland, Maine, Mass. Bay Division, Railroad
Enthusiasts, the Boston & Maine Historical Society, the Boston Street Railway
Association, the Central Electric Railfans Association, the Shore Line Interurban
Historical Society, and the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum,lnc.
His nearest relatives are three first cousins.
There will be no calling hours or funeral, and his ashes will be scattered at the
Seashore Trolley Museum after cremation. Memorial donations may be made to the
Endowment Fund of the New England Electric Railway Historical Society, lnc., P. O.
Box A" Kennebunkport, ME 04046.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18