McCusker, Karen Curesky
Karen Curesky McCusker, 57, passed away on September 22, 2021 after a long battle with breast cancer.
Karen is survived by a family that loves and misses her very deeply — her husband, highschool sweetheart, and best friend Kevin McCusker, her two children Camden and Carolyn, her parents Joseph and Carol Curesky, and her siblings and their spouses: Joe and Fran Curesky, Cathy and Dan Gregory, Ed and Hannah Curesky, and her sister Kristin Curesky Quarles and her fiancé Doug Ripley. Karen's family also includes numerous nieces and nephews and many others who have come to call her family.
Karen was born and raised in Danbury, CT in the house her parents built by hand. Joining Girl Scouts kindled her love for adventure and taught her songs she would sing to her children when she got older. She went on to become a Scout Leader in early adulthood. She loved travelling to Maine as a kid in the summers, where she built a reputation for herself on Mousam Lake as “the girl with the blue boat” who won waterskiing competitions. Her soulmate Kevin remembers meeting her at a party when they were 17, where he was immediately smitten by her green eyes.
Karen graduated from Immaculate High School in Danbury CT, received her BA from Univ. of New Hampshire, her JD from Georgetown Univ. Law Center, and her MSFS from Georgetown Univ. School of Foreign Service. She proudly and joyfully remembered studying foreign affairs under Madeleine Albright.
At UNH she was a first-seat rower on the crew team and got to compete in the Head of the Charles. During
and after her studies, Karen fed her love of adventure by going to the Soviet Union and Greece. Later in life she would bring her family on adventures to the White Mountains, Costa Rica, Mount Desert Island in Maine, Hawaii, and many more places.
Karen followed her passions to work as a business attorney at major law firms in Boston and Hartford before joining UTC Pratt & Whitney as in-house counsel. The highlight of her career was her 8-year stint as Chief Legal Officer of the joint venture, IAE International Aero Engines, Inc., where she worked with customers from all over the world. She also made time for pro bono work for, among others, the Department of Child and Family Services.
Karen cherished the opportunity to follow the soccer career of her son and the musical career of her daughter. She enjoyed cooking and baking for her kids and their friends and especially enjoyed hosting creative themed events. In her retirement, she discovered a talent and love for tutoring SAT students (she also learned that business operations weren't her forte). She loved spending time with her family at their cottage on the same lake she grew up visiting.
Her friends and family remember Karen for her brilliant mind and the love, wisdom, and joy she brought into their lives. From elaborate birthday parties to an understanding ear in times of hardship, Karen made each of her loved ones feel seen, loved, and special.
In lieu of flowers, Karen requested donations to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Inc., the Noah Webster House and West Hartford Historical Society, Inc., or the Girl Scouts of Connecticut, Inc.
Calling hours will be at Molloy Funeral Home 906 Farmington Ave. West Hartford, CT on Thursday 9/30 from 5pm-8pm. The funeral will be at St. Patrick St. Anthony Church 285 Church St. Hartford, CT on Friday 10/1 at 10am. Directions and link to stream will be available at www.molloyfuneralhome.com.