Cathedral High graduate, former Wilson staffer found dead in Thailand

Washington’s glittering holiday season turned dark for many last (month) when tragic news of Robert “Alo” Cushing’s untimely death began to circulate in emails, phone calls and social media.

An El Paso native, Cathedral High School graduate and University of New Mexico graduate who worked for five years in former Rep. Heather Wilson’s Washington office, Cushing died Dec. 14. in an apartment that he and his wife, Carrie, shared in Bangkok, Thailand.

Cushing, known simply as “Alo” among friends, had lived in Asia for several years working on democracy, women’s rights, public opinion research and other initiatives for the International Republican Institute. His wife had returned home to the United States for Christmas ahead of him. A housekeeper found his body (last month).

Thai authorities are still investigating the cause of death. A U.S. State Department official said the U.S. embassy in Bangkok was notified but will not issue a public statement. Bob Cushing, Alo’s father, told me that, under Thai law, it could take as long as 45 days to learn how his son died.

This article was written by Michael Coleman and appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. To view the article, click here.