Nicholas J. Cutrules

Nicholas James Cutrules, 81, passed away March 19, 2008 in the hospice care unit of the VA Hospital in Tucson, Arizona.He was a veteran of the Korean conflict. The military assigned Nick to the army's Communications Specialist School at Eta Jima, Japan. There he gained a good command of Korean, Russian and a working minimum of basic Japanese.In his youth at home, Nick had learned to speak, read and write Greek. After the family moved from Biddeford to Tucson, Arizona in 1959, Nick became fluent in 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 movie "McClintock," a field worker on the Titan 2 Missile Project, a Tucson police officer and a Pima County deputy sheriff. He also earned a black belt in karate and learned judo. With his Sensei and friend Mitch Awana, he gave demonstrations in Mexico and taught classes in Tucson's YMCA-YWCA. He was an unsuccessful candidate for the Tucson city council in 1977. He was also a member and past president of AHEPA Chapter 275.In grammar school and afterwards, he took up voice impersonations and was quite adept as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Edward G. Robinson, Franklin Roosevelt, James Cagney and even Mr. Taylor, his principal at Biddeford High School.A 1945 graduate of Biddeford High School, he always cherished his days playing football and working as an artist on the yearbook staff. In 1995, he was present at his class' 50th reunion, and was saddened to see how many of his friends had passed on. He voiced Housman's lines, "By brooks too broad for leaping the lightfoot boys are laid; the rose-lipt girls are sleeping in fields where roses fade."After his Korean experience, he had attended Boston University where he earned a bachelor of science degree with a major in TV and radio at the School of Public Relations and Communications. At the time he also took special courses at Emerson College and MIT. To meet the tuition costs he worked as a short order cook and bartender.Nick had a passion for the music of the big band era of the 1930's, 1940's and 1950's, and loved country and western music as well. As a radio announcer from 1947 through 1962 and beyond, he championed the sounds of Glenn Miller, Artie Shaw, Harry James, the Dorseys and the other greats of the time. He interviewed Woody Herman and others. Frank Sinatra was a central fixture of his shows.At KXCI and Green Valley he hosted two weekly radio shows, "Sounds of the Big Bands" and "The Sounds of Greece." The programs were very popular and he was interviewed such that his views turned up in print. At one point he was given a 4-hour time slot on weekends.Prior to his high school years, Nick mastered the Spanish and Hawaiian guitars and in Tucson, often mounted the stage with the "Sons of the Pioneers" when those good friends appeared at the Triple C Ranch during the winter months. He also appeared with Tucson's popular Louis Leon Orchestra playing the guitar and the trombone.For recreation, Nick flew powered model aircraft, rode his motorcycle and went horseback riding with his cousin Chris 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 communications skills and electrical knowledge he faithfully assisted holiday and fund raising events at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Tucson. In numerous letters to newspapers in Tucson and elsewhere, like "The Pnyx" he voiced Greek concerns on issues like Cyprus and the Aegean and Turkey's persecution of the Patriarchate in Constantinople (Istanbul.)The good people of Tucson will remember Nick in his role for many years as the voice describing the races at Tucson's greyhound track. He also enjoyed the thrill of an occasional wager there.Except for his passion for collecting music recordings, he was a reluctant consumer. Materialism and wealth never appealed to him, so he came in early 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...Happy he will be who seeks mercy...from the Father in Heaven where peace awaits us all."Nick was a lover of his family and friends. He was most 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. And in his seven year struggle with diabetes, he never complained and with stoic reserve endured the trials and discomforts, always thankful for the kindness and care of the doctors, nurses and staff of the VA hospital. Then there were the medics who responded to his home crises and in the last months, Uba and Maria and the others who in their compassion kept him comfortable at the Care Haven Home.Nicholas was a good and decent man who will be greatly missed by those who knew him.Those wishing to honor his memory are asked, in lieu of flowers, to donate to diabetes research or an animal rights organization of your choice.Committal services will be conducted on Thursday at 11 AM in Riverside Cemetery in Springvale. Arrangements are under the direction of the Carll-Heald & Black Funeral Home, 580 Main Street, Springvale. To send the family a note of condolence, please click on the Condolences tab at left.