To acknowledge the passing of Cameron Irving Cutler, 83, is to liken him to the disappearance of a man for all seasons.
Here was a unique individual whose love of poetry and fiction, as well as tales of maritime lore, plus history of his rich heritage, told all the depth of knowledge held by such a man.
He was the son of Helen Grant Irving and Carl Custer Cutler, residing as a 7th direct generation, in the Packer homestead, built in the early 1700’s. He attended local schools (one a two-room school-house in W. Mystic), Fitch High School and East Greenwich Academy in Rhode Island.
He and his wife, Helen Topalian Cutler, whom he married in 1955 at the Methodist Church in Brooklyn, NY, took it upon themselves to repair and renovate the homestead. It was fun at first but then became tedious and expensive. However, they were tenacious with almost everything being completed before his death.
His father, one of the three founders of the Mystic Seaport, went on to develop the site alone after the other two originators died. Cameron always joked that he was a free hand-cuffed volunteer supporting the museum with his physical labor. One memorable time was when he and his father navigated the “Morgan” up the Mystic River to her new home, by themselves.
His mother and sister, Delight, also gave of themselves to support the dream that became a world-renowned reality.
Cameron served his country well and proudly. He attended Kings Point, then transferred to the Army putting his life on the line in three wars….World War II, Korea and Vietnam. He received many ribbons and medals…the last being a Bronze Star from Vietnam, achieved at the time of the Tet Offensive. His MOS was mainly in intelligence…a special group called the Counter-Intelligence Corp or the acronym CIC. and most of his tours of duty were in the Far East….mainly Japan, North Africa and Korea. At home he had tours in New York and Maryland.
He continued his education, through the Army at Monterey, California and at Yale’s post-graduate school of languages mastering Japanese and Chinese, respectively.
Never one to shirk work, he retired from the Army on a Friday and then started the next Monday at General Dynamics, Electric Boat Division in a completely new field, as a buyer in their Procurement Division.
After retiring, he volunteered his time and served as Chairman of the Water Pollution Authority of the Town of Groton and was a member of the Charity & Relief Lodge of Masons.. He was also an integral part of the Union Baptist Church of Mystic, serving on many boards and in many positions.
As an avid reader he liked to impart his interests and viewpoints to his minister, the Rev. Dr. G. Kenneth Carpenter. They exchanged many books and articles hoping to influence each other but holding true to their individual viewpoints. As the Reverend said recently, “This is a man you listened to.”
He leaves his wife, Helen, four months shy of fifty years of marriage; his son, Brian Cameron Cutler and wife, Sherry; sister Delight Bellini and husband; grandchildren Ryan, Amy and Kyle Cutler and most assuredly his feisty doxie, Charlie. He also leaves a nephew Ned Nicholson; a sister-in-law and husband plus nieces and their children.
A Funeral Service will be conducted at the Union Baptist Church, Mystic on Monday at 11am with burial following in Second Packer Cemetery. There are no visiting hours. Donations may be made to Union Baptist Church Scholarship Fund, 119 High Street, Mystic CT 06355.
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