Brian A. Cashman

Brian A. Cashman, a man who loved his family, his friends, his alma mater, as well as his long and distinguished service in law enforcement, passed away on Tuesday, December 13, 2022, after a short illness.  He was 67-years-old.

His beloved Madeline – his wife, best friend, confidante, and inseparable partner for the past 42 years – was by his side when God called Brian home. Brian’s life centered on Madeline and their two children, Emily and Patrick, a close family whose unbreakable bonds were forged with deep love, constant support, and an abiding appreciation for life’s beauty, joy, humor, and celebrations.

Brian was enormously proud of his career in law enforcement, and later, he adapted his skills in the private sector, where he served as an investigator and security expert.  The greatest compliment you could pay Brian Cashman was to call him a “cop’s cop.”  He loved it all – the investigations, the interrogations, the satisfaction that came with cracking a case and helping a victim in need.  He did his job with diligence, perseverance, enthusiasm, selflessness, toughness, and compassion.  Whether wearing a uniform or a suit, whether walking a beat or working the most sensitive espionage cases that required high-level security clearances, he honored and respected the profession as few have or few will.

He began his career as a deputy sheriff with the Essex (MA) County Sheriff’s Office, and then as a patrol officer in the Newburyport Police Department.  In the latter position, he had such a passion for being “on the job” that sometimes he had to be called in by radio to remind him that his shift was over and his cruiser was needed for the next shift. 

Brian achieved his childhood goal of becoming a federal special agent when he was selected by the then-Naval Investigative Service, now known as the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS).  In 1985, while a special agent with NCIS, he was assigned to the elite foreign counterintelligence squad at Norfolk, VA, when the infamous John Walker family espionage investigation broke in his office.  Brian identified evidence during the investigation that was critical to the successful prosecution of Walker and his spy ring – Walker had been selling top-secret Navy messages to the Soviet Union for a period of nearly two decades. 

Later in his career, Brian was appointed to the New Hampshire Parole Board, and in so doing, served in every level of sworn public safety – local, county, state, and federal – an extremely rare career achievement.  He concluded his government service with another federal appointment as an agent in the Defense Department’s Defense Security Service, ensuring that companies contracted to work on classified government projects maintain strict secrecy protocols. 

He followed his government service with security management work in the defense industry, and became president of the New Hampshire chapter of the American Society for Industrial Security, which promoted professionalism and continuing education for corporate security directors and managers.  Brian also enjoyed success as an insurance fraud investigator, an investigator and regional manager for a national media company, and as a teacher of high school diploma equivalency classes to inmates at Rockingham (NH) House of Corrections, where he always hoped to make a positive difference in their lives.

Through it all, and as he fulfilled the role of husband and father, Brian served his alma mater, the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA, from where he earned his degree in 1977.  He was part of a proud Holy Cross family legacy, which included his father George A. Cashman, Sr., Class of 1947, his brother George A. Cashman, Jr., Class of 1973, and his daughter Emily, Class of 2007. In short, Brian “bled purple.”  He was very active in many alumni boards and committees, served as president of the college’s alumni association, led annual fundraising activities, and interviewed prospective students.  In 2010, Holy Cross presented Brian with its highest alumni honor, the In Hoc Signo Award, presented to those who have demonstrated many years of dedication and extraordinary service to Holy Cross.

In addition to his wife Madeline, Brian leaves his daughter Emily Cashman Kirstein, son-in-law Harrell Kirstein, and granddaughter Maire Kirstein of Washington, DC; and his son Patrick Cashman of Newmarket, New Hampshire. Brian is also survived by his brother William Cashman and his wife Sylvia of Newburyport; his sister Christine Cashman of Newburyport; his brother Mark Cashman and his wife Susan Cashman of Stevensville, MD; his sister Suzanne Cashman of Newburyport; his sister Joan Khairi and her husband Siamak of Georgia; his sister Catherine Cashman of Newburyport; and several nieces, nephews, and dear friends. He is predeceased by his sister Rosemary Cashman; his brother George A. Cashman, Jr.; and his parents, George A. Cashman Sr. and Rosemary (Flynn) Cashman of Newburyport.

True to his generous spirit even in passing, Brian was an organ donor and committed to the research of brain injuries from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).  Contributions in Brian’s name can be made to The Harvard Brain Tissue Resource Center at McLean Hospital, known as the McLean Brain Bank, at  https://hbtrc.mclean.harvard.edu/support-us/.

The family will hold a celebration of life to honor Brian at a later date.