By Sheldon Spackman

Cuthbertson remembered as man of character, kindness and grace

Sep 11, 2018 | 9:10 PM

A much beloved Red Deer veteran well-known for his community service is being remembered as the most affable person you could ever meet.

Jack Cuthbertson passed away at the age of 93 on September 1. Funeral Services were held over the weekend.

Cuthbertson’s long-time friend and Past Rotary President Jim McPherson says Cuthbertson epitomized the motto of ‘Service Above Self.’

“I just found him to be such an enormously, wonderful, competent person and very considerate of all points of view,” says McPherson. “He was just a wonderful, wonderful man.”

McPherson adds Cuthbertson was a perfect example of how Red Deer is such a giving community.

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“From the hospital board to a litany of other community initiatives, his involvement in the community was just huge. In addition to his deep-rooted community commitment, he was the most wonderful man to be around.”

Grant Howell, Vice Chair of the Central Alberta Aquatics Committee, worked closely with Cuthbertson for a decade on spearheading the multi-use aquatics centre initiative in Red Deer. He says Jack was an amazing man.

“A wonderful citizen who was very focused on his community,” states Howell. “Here was a guy with a rare combination of vision and focus as well as practicality. There’s a lot of people that are pretty visionary, but they’re not very focused so they don’t get anywhere but Jack had that rare combination, he understood the big picture extremely well.”

Howell says Cuthbertson, who ran more than 50 marathons, was very much into personal health and wellness and made a point of always being active.

“He was about making people better and well. This aquatics thing is about healthy lifestyles and about training people to live healthy lifestyles, so he was about making this a better community.

“Jack was an amazing guy. Who else renews his pilot’s license at 92?” Howell remarked.

Cuthbertson served in the RCAF as a Flying Officer where he developed a life-long passion for flying. After WW2, he went on to complete a Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Alberta and became a Chartered Accountant.

He then moved with his family to Red Deer where he established his own accounting firm.

A long-time member of the Presbyterian Church, Cuthbertson worked tirelessly with the Red Deer Hospital Board and Foundation to raise capital and improve patient care.

He was named Red Deer’s Citizen of the Year in 2006.

At the age of 82, Cuthbertson spearheaded formation of the Central Alberta Aquatics Committee in an effort to get a new multi-purpose aquatic centre built in Red Deer. A project is currently scheduled for discussion as part of the city’s 2019 budget.

Cuthbertson was predeceased by his wife Mary to whom he was devoted for 67 years and by his brothers Alan and Jim. He will be greatly missed by his three children, nine grandchildren, four great grandchildren and many other family and friends.

Donations can be made in Jack Cuthbertson’s memory to Red Deer Regional Health Foundation or the Red Deer Hospice Society.