|
Obituary
After an extraordinary life and charismatic presence, a wonderful man has passed. To mourn his loss is his loving wife of 62 years Mary J Cutaia (Miller) and their children Tony (Jackie), Joanna Cutaia-Beales (Roy), Helen Thomson (Gary), Lynda Ingraudo (Gino), and Pati Camillo (Remo). He always said to his grandchildren, “who loves you most of all?”. Loved most of all are Nicky (Tara), Sam, Jaclyn, Bo, Mary, Anthony, Andrea (Andrew), Olivia, Joseph, Angelica, and Adam. Predeceased by sisters Anne (Joe) Bordinaro, Mary (Nick) Pitirri, Anita (Richard) Harper, brothers Richard and Angelo. Brother-in-law to Judith Cutaia, Leonora Cutaia, Patricia and Ron Marck, Michael and Kathleen Miller, and the late Dianne and Murray Wigood. Fond uncle to many nieces and nephews. Nick also shared many happy memories with his lifelong sailing, skiing, golfing, and card playing buddies. We will miss your contagious smile and eternal optimism. Thank you for teaching us the importance of living life to the fullest and to always have a positive outlook. We will always remember your endless piano playing of your favourite tune New York, New York.
|
| Jacqueline Thibodeau Wilkinson (Other) |
|
Entered
from Burlington
|
Dear Cutaia Family,
What a tremendous friendship Nicky had with my Dad, Fred Thibodeau. The stories I have enjoyed hearing over the years were extraordinary. My Dad will miss his friend tremendously.
Our condolences to your entire family on your loss.
Jacqueline, Bryn, Hannah & Reid Wilkinson |
| CHRIS DUNN (Other) |
|
Entered
from HAMILTON
|
My condolences to the family.
I was your neighbour at 99 Mountain Ave., when the Cutaias and Harpers lived beside each other on Hillcrest Ave. |
| Dr. Grady (Family) |
|
Entered
|
Subject: Uncle Nick Passing
I remember Uncle Nick as a kid. I was the kid. He was Uncle Nick. Our family would visit twice a year in Hamilton. Usually once in the summer and once at New Years.
The summers were great because at the bottom of Uncle Nicks backyard was the swimming pool. Some big fun happened there. One summer there was a picnic. There was a lot of food and there was a melon ball salad inside a half watermelon. Tables all set up in the backyard. Someone lobbed a melon ball at another table. It hit one of the adults in the face. There was a quiet pause as the conversation stopped, kind of tense. Then, the adult grabbed a handful of melon balls and threw them at the other table(scattershots never miss, right?) Wow! The food fight was on. Everyone running all over, throwing food.
Mary was just walking outdoors with a bowl of food in her hands. She was puzzled by all the noise and commotion. She looked at Uncle Nick as if to say: "What the hell is going on here". Nick didn't say a word. He just got this evil grin on his face, while his hand scooped some chip dip. Mary screamed, dropped the bowl and began to run. Nick was in hot pursuit. He caught her after a short chase and applied the chip dip to face and hair. It was a glorious, wacky, fun moment. I swear on my life that I did not instigate that marvelous mayhem, but i did participate.
Uncle Nick had several passions in his life. Family first.
After that, sailing and skiing. One sport for each season. He was damn good at both of them. I believe there are awards at RHYC that attest to his prowess at the helm. Nick and Uncle Richard had a memorable trip taking a sailboat from Lake Ontario, down the Hudson and through the intracoastal waterway. This was a long adventure. Richard was experienced on the water and former Canadian Navy sailor. Richard called it a trip ' that happens once a lifetime.' When asked about that journey in later years, Richard would look away as if he was focusing on on a distant shore. Then he would smile and reply: ' Man, that was a great trip. I would go again tomorrow if I could."
Skiing. Chedoke and Collingwood were his playgrounds. Nice little tune-ups. He loved Colorado. And Whistler in BC. Nick could ski the big stuff with the best of them. Never made it out west with him. When I was about 13 years of age, I had this idea that I would be able to ski as well as him, some day. Maybe even beat him down the hill. I must have been 17 when Uncle Nick and I stood at the top of the hill looking down towards the bottom. Last run of the day. Our family had skiied a lot that year, and I felt I was ready. "Want to race to the bottom?" , I ventured. "Sure", he said " But, if you don't mind, show me a turn or two at the top before we race. Uncle Nick was a good coach, as well a s a good skiier. It was his way of saying in a nice way: " I'm going to spot you a lead sonny boy, lets see what you can do". Well, I bolted. Maybe a half turn or two at the top, but looking for speed all the way. Had to be a bit careful because we were skiing some small bumps. Were not much past halfway down the hill and I see him on my left, and he is cruising. I'm skiing the edge of the bumps, just holding on, thinking I am going fast. He is in the heart of the moguls, staying in the valleys. Faster and smooth. He had that low center of gravity. He really could make skiing look effortless. He won by a good margin. Later, over a beer he told me something that I remember to this day. It is also something I have shared with my son.
He said: " Sports and life are much the same. If you want to get better at something, find a person who is a little bit better than yourself. Hang around with them, don't be afraid to ask for advice. That is how it works"
That is the kind of man Uncle Nick was. Likeable. Loveable. Winner. He was the guy others wanted to be around.
PS. Years later, Uncle Nick told me he was skiing in Colorado. Gets on the chairlift with one other guy. They sat at opposite ends of the chair. Quiet at first, the other guy starts up a conversation and soon they are chatting away. After awhile, Nick says to the guy that he sounds familiar, does he know him from somewhere? The guy replies: " Maybe? " and lifts up his ski goggles and smiles. It is Jack Nicholson the Hollywood actor. They keep chatting. Uncle Nick thinks that is pretty cool, but not wanting to intrude, bids Jack farewell and skiis away. Turns out that they wind up together at the bottom of the hill again. Uncle Nick is first in the lift line (of course). Jack is somewhat winded, and comes up from behind. They ride the chair up again together. When they get to the top, Nicholson says that he is alone and would it be OK if they skiied together for the morning? Uncle Nick is up for it, and so they do.
When asked later if Nicholson was a good skier, Uncle Nick replied " Yeah he was OK. But I think he was more than a little hung over. It was a good time. Jack was a fun guy to hang out with.
So there you have it. He was the guy others wanted to be around.
|
|
