Elbert Tuttle

Judge Elbert Tuttle
1931 - 2026

Elbert Tuttle Obituary

Our dear father, Elbert Tuttle, age 94, returned to his maker on February 19, 2026. A lifelong resident of Framingham, Massachusetts, Elbert served his Country as a US Army Officer, the State of Massachusetts as a Superior Court Judge and State Representative, Middlesex County as a District Court Judge, and the Town of Framingham as a Selectman.

Born in Framingham, Elbert is the son of Joseph Walton Tuttle and his beloved and devoted wife Gladys Mildred Tuttle (Wright), also lifelong residents of Framingham. Elbert's father Joseph, blinded in an accident at age 15, attended Framingham High School (later South High), the Perkins School for the Blind, Bowdoin College ('17), and Harvard Law School ('20). With Gladys by his side, Joseph went on to become a prominent Attorney, and Massachusetts very first blind State Representative. It was from his parents that Elbert learned the importance of hard work, honesty, community service, and equality for all.

In 1952, Elbert married his high school sweetheart, Marion Jeanette Dyan. Marion, his wife of 62 years, predeceased Elbert in 2014, as did his older sister and sole sibling, Lucile Ferrucci (Tuttle), of Milford, MA. Elbert is survived by three daughters: Susan Tuttle Gregorio and her husband, Major Robert Gregorio (USAF, Retired), of Wells, Maine; Cynthia Tuttle Shaw and her husband Mark Shaw, of Holliston, MA; and Leslie Tuttle and her husband Juan Quiles, of Marlborough, MA. Elbert is also survived by his niece Lisa Ferrucci of Milford, MA; sister-in-law Suzanne Valliere (Dyan), of New Port Richey, Florida; nieces Kimberly Essigmann (Dyan) and Kristen Dyan, and nephews William McLean and Scott Dyan. Elbert and Marion were also the proud grandparents of seven grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

Like his father, Elbert attended Framingham High School. He then attended Boston University, Class of '53, and Boston University School of Law, Class of '57. After law school Elbert entered the US Army and received orders to Fort Benning, Georgia, home of the US Army Ranger School, and Airborne and Infantry Training. While stationed there, Elbert was assigned to Fort Benning's Office of the Staff Judge Advocate (JAG Corps). Living in temporary quarters at the time and awaiting the arrival of his family, the freshly minted Lieutenant Tuttle, while surveying the dilapidated quarters he and his family had been assigned, came face-to-face with Fort Benning's real "top brass," the wives of Fort Benning's most senior officers, who immediately ordered Lt. Tuttle to get out, get to work, and not to return until his family arrives. Later, with Marion and two children in tow, Elbert returned and was amazed to see that his quarters had been totally renovated and furnished. He later learned that all the work was personally done by those military wives, who in those days always took care of their own. For the rest of his life Elbert would never forget the kindness and unselfish dedication to duty shown by these women. Upon completing his tour of duty at Fort Benning, Elbert was honorably discharged from the US Army and he and his family returned to Framingham. There, the family lived in the old WW2 Musterfield Housing units until Elbert and Marion purchased a small home in the Nobscot area of Framingham, and later purchased a larger home in the same area, where they resided the rest of their lives.

Shortly after returning home, Elbert's blind father Joseph, having served three terms in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, convinced Elbert to get involved in politics. Elbert would soon meet and campaign for Senator Barry Goldwater, the 1964 Republican Presidential Candidate. Very impressed by then Massachusetts Attorney General Edward W. Brooks, Elbert campaigned side-by-side with Brooks in his 1966 winning bid to become the very first African-American US Senator elected by popular vote. In 1973, Massachusetts Governor Francis W. Sargent, a Republican, appointed Elbert to be a Middlesex County District Court Judge. Although Elbert was a Republican, in 1982, Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis, a staunch Democrat and the future 1988 Democratic Candidate for President, appointed Elbert to be a Massachusetts Superior Court Judge, a testament to Judge Tuttle's judicial acumen.

Elbert's judicial and public service career spanned over 50 years. But as busy as he was, he always found time to help many philanthropic, judicial, and public service organizations. He was Chairman of the Board of The Arthur Ashley Williams Foundation; member of the Massachusetts and South Middlesex Bar Associations; Massachusetts Judges' Conference; American Judges Association; Boston Athenaeum; French Library in Boston; and the Framingham Historical Society, to name but a few. In retirement, Elbert continued to stay busy, putting his years of judicial experience to good use serving Of Counsel to the Law Firm of Fletcher Tilton in Framingham.

Elbert and Marion enjoyed more than sixty-two years of life together. Both shared a passion for reading about history, culture, and religion, amassing a collection of thousands of books in their crowded basement library. They enjoyed poetry, visiting museums, summer visits to Tanglewood, and traveled extensively overseas visiting many of the ancient historical and cultural sites they had read about. They considered their journey to the Southern Levant (Holy Land) the most enlightening experience of their lives, and highlight of their travels.

A fitness buff, Elbert exercised each and every day of his life, even in his 90's. Every morning he arose early and started his day by stretching, followed by a warm-up on his exercise bike. He would then, much to the amazement of his neighbors, take a one mile jog around his neighborhood. Once home he would shower, dress, and then drive every morning to his favorite place, the Honey Dew Donuts shop at Nobscot Center, where he would always go inside to pickup his coffee and talk with all the employees and early morning regulars. Elbert was liked by all, and as soon as he walked through the door the place would seem to come to life, everyone waving and cordially greeting him with various forms of salutation ranging from hey Tut, good morning judge, and from all the old-timers that he grew up with in Framingham, hi buster, a nickname given to him by his family and relatives due to his weighing over 10 pounds when he was born. It was all in good fun and Elbert, a people person, loved every minute of it. At home, he would then sit at the kitchen table with his Honey Dew coffee and read the Boston Globe and Wall Street Journal before going to work, a routine he had done most everyday of his life...

Judge Elbert Tuttle will be remembered for his unwavering honesty and integrity, his tireless service as a public servant, and above all for his profound commitment to equal justice under law, for all. Elbert will be buried with his beloved and devoted wife Marion, the love of his life, at the Edgell Grove Cemetery, 53 Grove Street, Framingham, Massachusetts 01701. In lieu of flowers, it would be Elbert's wish that if you care to donate, that you please consider making your donation to The Perkins School for the Blind, 175 North Beacon Street, Watertown, Mass 02472, or online at Perkins.org.

On behalf of our Dear Father, we wish to say a heartfelt thank you to all of his friends and neighbors for the kindness you showed him over the years, and your kind consideration during our bereavement.


Our Best Regards and Love to all,
Susan, Cynthia, and Leslie