Nicholas J. Cutrules

Nicholas J. Cutrules It was a year ago March 19, 2008, in the hospice care unit of the VA Hospital in Tucson, that Nicholas, my most devoted and much missed brother, passed away aged 81. As a trooper destined for the Korean conflict, the military assigned Nick to the Army Communications Specialist School at Eta Jima, Japan where he gained working ability in Korean, Russian and basic Japanese. In his youth at home, he had learned to speak, read and write Greek. This too proved handy in Korea when he acted as a contact for his American unit with the flanking troops who were the Turkish and Greek contingents. When the family moved to Tucson from Biddeford, Maine, in 1959 Nick taught himself to speak Spanish. As the Bard opines, "All the world's a stage and all the men and women merely players...,and one man in his time plays many parts..." This certainly applies to Nick who, in his working days, wore many hats: - bus driver, taxi driver, an extra in John Wayne's 1962 classic "McClintock," a field worker on the Titan 2 Missile Project, a Tucson police officer and a Pima County deputy sheriff. He earned a black belt in karate and learned judo. With his friend and sensei, Mitch, he gave demonstrations at clinics in Mexico and taught classes at Tucson's YMCA-YWCA. He was a member and past president of AHEPA Chapter 275 meeting at St. Demetrios Church. In 1977 he made an unsuccessful bid for the Tucson city council. As a youngster in grammar school and afterwards, Nick took up voice impersonation and was quite adept as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Edward G. Robinson, F.D.R., James Cagney and even his principal at Biddeford High School, Mr. Taylor! A 1945 graduate of Biddeford High School, he always cherished his days playing football and working as an artist on the Annual staff. It's pages describe him as "The artist of our class" and an up and coming "Walt Disney." Following his Korean stint, he returned to Boston University and received a degree with a major in TV and radio at the School of Public Relations and Communications. At the time he also pursued special courses at Emerson College and M.I.T. To meet tuition costs he worked as a short-order cook and bartender. Nick had an abiding love of the music of the Big Band Era of the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, and favored country and western music as well. As a radio disc-jockey from 1947 through 1962 and beyond, he championed the sounds of Glenn Miller, Artie Shaw, Benney Goodman, Harry James, the Dorseys and other greats of the time. He interviewed Woody Herman and others. Frank Sinatra was a pivotal fixture of his shows. At KXCI and Green Valley he hosted two weekly radio programs, "Sounds of the Big Bands" and "The Sounds of Greece." On weekends he was given four-hour time slots. He was interviewed in print. The music of those decades remained a core enthusiasm of his even as he battled illness. He was a strong fan of KTUC's "Big Band Sunday Brunch Show" which highlites those classic sounds. Prior to high school and after, Nick mastered the Spanish and Hawaiian guitars and in Tucson, often mounted the stage with the "Sons of the Pioneers" when those good friends performed at the Triple C Ranch during the winter months. At times he also played the guitar and trombone with Tucson's popular Louis Leon Orchestra. For recreation, Nick flew powered model aircraft with friends at Ryan Field, rode his motorcycle and went horseback riding with his cousin Chris Seferlis and friends. His beloved boxer Trajan was entered in a number of shows by Nick and came away with awards for Best of Show and Best of Opposite Sex. With his communication skills and electrical expertise, Nick faithfully assisted at various functions at St. Demetrios Church in Tucson. And in letters to papers in Tucson and elsewhere, like "The Pnyx", he voiced Greek concern on issues such as Cyprus, the Aegean and Turkey's persecution of the Patriarchate and the small Greek community in Constantinople (Istanbul). Many good people of the Old Pueblo will remember him in his role of many years as the voice describing the races at Tucson Greyhound Park. Apart from his zeal for amassing a notable library of recorded music, a life-long passion, Nick was a reluctant consumer. Materialism and wealth, except for its enabling power to assist the needy, never yanked him by the nose. He came early in life to the reality voiced by an Anglo-Saxon versifier of old: "Here all things are merely loaned: - Property, friends, family, one's own self......" Nick valued and loved family and friends. He was also kind and generous with his modest means towards the indigents who regularly turned up at his door, and strangers he met from time to time. He was also giving of his time to play his guitar for residents and guests during dinner hour, etc. at two local care homes. At the last, during a seven year struggle with diabetes, he never complained and with stoic reserve endured the challenges and discomforts, always grateful for the consideration and care of the doctors, nurses and staff of the VA hospital. Then there were the paramedics who responded to his home crises and, in the last months, Uba and Maria and the other caregivers who saw to his comfort and well-being at the Care Haven Home. Always there, too, were his cousin, Joy and supportive friends Eunice and Aldora, Debbie and Ed Wilson, George Stathis, Steve Heliotis, Nick Espiotis, Mark O'Hare, Sylvia Chayo, Prof. J. Gregory and Manole Oswald, William Almich Sr. (a 1960's Sherriff's Deputy and friend) and Tony and Deli Jacques, just to name a few. Nicholas was an upright and decent soul whose familiar step is much missed by those who knew him. Even at this late date he may be called to mind by donatives to further diabetes research or advance the cause of animal kindness and care. An alternative, too, is the Cutrules Family Hellenic Studies Library Endowment at the U. of A. Main Library. A Trisagion service was conducted at the Angel Valley Funeral Home in Tucson, and Committal Rites in October at the Riverside Cemetery, Springvale, Maine. Arrangements there were with the Carll-Heald and Blak Funeral Home in Springvale. Frater, Ave Atque Vale.