George A. McCutcheon will be missed

George Albert McCutcheon, who had spent a lifetime promoting youth activities in the Back Mountain, died on Sunday, June 1, 2008, at a retirement community in San Antonio, Texas. He was 90 years old.

Born in Wilkes-Barre on March 29, 1918, he graduated from Coughlin High School in 1935. He received his bachelor’s degree from Bloomsburg University, where he lettered in varsity baseball. He earned a master’s degree in counseling from New York University and completed additional studies at Colgate, Pennsylvania State, Wilkes and West Chester universities.

He joined the Navy in 1941 and survived the sinking of the USS Tasker Bliss, a transport involved in the invasion of North Africa. He then served on submarines, including the USS Tilefish in the Pacific during World War II and the USS Clamagore during the Korean conflict. He earned the highest score in the entire Pacific fleet for copying radio code through Japanese “bagpipe jamming.” He retired from the Naval Reserve in 1964 after 21 years of service.

From 1945 to 1959, he served as teacher, class advisor, drama director, assistant football coach, assistant and varsity basketball coach and varsity baseball coach in Kingston Township and Dallas. During that time, he also coached the Plains Methodist Basketball Team, directed the American Legion District sports program and was president of the Back Mountain Church Basketball League.

In 1959, he became director of guidance for the Dallas School District, retiring from that position in 1966. In 1967, he was the first local educator to be hired by Luzerne County Community College. During its initial stages, he established the Admissions, Athletic, Recruiting and Placement, Continuing Education and Counseling departments, as well as the Alumni Association. He went on to serve as director of Student Activities and as advisor to the Student Government Association.

At the time of his retirement from LCCC in 1983, that association established the George McCutcheon Scholarship. In 1995, he was inducted into the LCCC Wall of Honor for his outstanding contribution to the college.

He was a member of Dallas Kiwanis for 49 years, serving as president and lieutenant governor of Division 15. In 1976, he established a second club in the area, the Back Mountain Kiwanis Club. He was Kiwanis state chairman of the Quality of Our Environment Committee from 1970-72.

Along with his long-time best friend and fellow Kiwanian, Bob Dolbear, he initiated the Dallas Kiwanis Club All-Star Softball Tournament, held each June to show appreciation for women’s sports in the area. In 1985, he was presented with the Legion of Honor Award for years of service to the Dallas Kiwanis Club. Through his affiliation with Kiwanis he volunteered at the Meadows Nursing Home, rang bells for the Salvation Army during the holiday season, and assisted with the annual Halloween parade.

He was advisor to the Dallas High School Key Club and supervised its four marching units from 1962-67. One unit, the Rifle Drill Team, performed at the Kiwanis International Convention in Denver, Colo., in 1962. For his outstanding work with youth, he was awarded the Valley Forge Freedom Foundation Medal in 1964. In 1972, under his supervision, the Luzerne County Community College Circle K Club became involved in Hurricane Agnes flood recovery work. For this effort, the students were presented with the two highest awards given at the international convention. In 1974, he received the Circle of Service Award, the top honor given for outstanding community service through Circle K. The Pennsylvania Circle K established the George McCutcheon Award, which is presented annually to a Kiwanis advisor for outstanding service to Circle K clubs.

He was chairman of the Dallas Sesquicentennial Committee in 1967, Back Mountain Library Auction and Dallas Borough Recreation Committee. He organized and chaired the Back Mountain Environmental Group and was treasurer of the Back Mountain Medical Intensive Care Unit. He was a member of the board of directors of the Luzerne County Fair, Back Mountain Library and American Red Cross. He served as director of the Leaders Rotary Camp for youth. He was a member of Dallas Masonic Lodge 531, Bloomsburg Consistory, Irem Temple and the Irem Legion of Honor Drill Team.

For his service to the community, he was honored as “Citizen of the Year” jointly by the Rotary, Lions and Kiwanis clubs of the Dallas area.

In 2003, George and his wife, Dorothea, moved to Quarry Hill, a retirement community in Camden, Maine, to be closer to their daughter, Georgia, and her family. There, George started a singing group, the Quarry Hill Choristers, which performed for the residents and other senior facilities in the area. He also volunteered in the assisted living and Alzheimer facilities at Quarry Hill.

In 2005, the family moved to San Antonio, Texas, where Dorothea and George lived at Independence Hill, also a retirement community. There, George continued his volunteer work, leading exercise classes and raising money for the employee appreciation fund. An area newspaper article about him quoted an individual as saying, “Where there are projects for youth, the community or the common good, there you will find George McCutcheon.”

George and Dorothea celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary on May 28, 2008. She survives him, along with their daughter, Georgia Zwartjes, of San Antonio; two grandchildren; sister Aline Sprau, of Shavertown.

Memorial donations may be made to the George McCutcheon Scholarship at Luzerne County Community College, Back Mountain Memorial Library or Shavertown United Methodist Church. The family may be contacted at 20450 Huebner Rd, Apt. 12114, San Antonio, TX 78258.

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