Alfred Cutaia
Posted By Ballard Sunder Funeral Home On March 28, 2020 @ 11:46 am In 2020,Obituaries | 10 Comments
Alfred “Al” Cutaia
Age 86, of Prior Lake, MN, passed away March 27, 2020 in the comfort of his home surrounded by his family after a valiant struggle with Alzheimer’s disease complicated by a stroke.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be live streamed on Tuesday, March 31, at 1 pm Central Standard Time, by visiting stmichael-pl.org and clicking on the Live Streaming tab. Al will be buried following at St Michael Catholic Cemetery, in Prior Lake, MN. Memorials are preferred and will be distributed in Al’s memory, by the family. Cards can be mailed to Ballard-Sunder Funeral and Cremation, 104 W. First St, Jordan, MN 55352, and will be forwarded to the family. A public memorial service will be held later, due to COVID-19.
Al was born on April 15, 1933, in Rochester, New York to Jerry and Grace Cutaia. He graduated at the top of his class at Benjamin Franklin High school, and had the same success at the Rochester Institute of Technology, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering.
His career began at Bausch & Lomb. Al met the love of his life there. Thelma Santamore was carrying an armful of papers when he collided with her sending the papers tumbling to the floor. A dinner date to say “I’m sorry” turned into “I do” on March 2, 1957. That summer, he enlisted in the Army. His oldest child, Kathy was born on the base. Al began his career at IBM in 1956. After his discharge from the army in 1957, he, Thelma, and Kathy drove to Endicott, NY, where Al continued his career. Mary and Patty were born in Binghamton NY. When IBM made a big move to Rochester, MN, Al volunteered to relocate. Neither Al nor Thelma knew anything about Minnesota but fell in love with their new home. His children, Nancy and David were born in Rochester.
Alfred’s career blossomed. He was promoted from junior engineer to a top executive, becoming a legend in the plant. Alfred’s involvement led to 121 patents for the firm and in 1988 Al became the first IBM Rochester employee to earn an IBM Fellowship. He also published a book titled “Technology Projection Modeling of Future Computer Systems,’’ in 1990. Al retired in 1993. He and Thelma relocated to Prior Lake where Al relished fishing and boating on the lake. Al’s most cherished times were spent enjoying his family, which by then had expanded to include four grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He will always be remembered for his modesty, kindness and generosity.
Alfred is survived by his daughters Kathy (Mike) Wilmes of West Concord, Mary (John) Pribble of Apple Valley, Patricia Cutaia of Rochester, Nancy Cutaia of Prior Lake, and son David (Joyce) Cutaia of Apple Valley; his grandchildren Sarah (Wally) Bluhm, Rachel Wilmes, Isabella Cutaia, Sam Wilmes (fiancé Erin Kaus) and great-grandson Elliot Bluhm. He is also survived by sister, Linda Whitcomb of Rochester, NY and many nieces and nephews in New York state.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Thelma, his brother Charles, and his parents Jerry and Grace Cutaia.
Ballard-Sunder Funeral and Cremation proudly served and cared for the Cutaia family.
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The right words are hard to come by at such a difficult time. You’re in my heart Nancy. Rest assured you’re in my thoughts and prayers. May God bless you and the whole Cutaia family.
Love,
Lisa and Rick
Alfred sat in front of me in church for many years he seem to a wonderful man and he has the most wonderful children they were so kind and loving to him
My sincere and deepest condolences to the Al Cutaia Family. I had the honor and privilege of working with Al for many years at Rochester IBM. His personal contributions were significant and lasting making IBM Rochester a key part of the computer industry.
Kathy: your dad sounds like he was a wonderful and caring man. He now rests in peace. Thinking of you and the family!!!!!!
On behalf of everyone at Ability Building Community (ABC), please accept our deepest condolences to the Cutaia family. Al and Thelma have been very generous friends over the years and we can not thank them enough for everything they have done to support our programs and services.
Words can’t express how sorry I am. I am so proud of my bff Nancy for taking care of her dad these last few years. I wish there was a way for me to put the picture of Nancy putting rabbit ears over her dad’s head and his signature wave after he insisted on buying dinner for myself and my daughter and son in law and my grandchildren. I so wish I had taken a video of how my grandson and Al were with each other as Axel would drop his bunny and Al would pick it up. They had such a connection. I can’t be there in person to give you all a hug but I hope you feel my prayers from Des Moines, IA. Both Al and Thelma made sure I was well fed and we’ll taken care of every time I seen them in the last 34 years. I can see where Nancy gets her goodness and kindness from. God bless you .
Dear Cutaia Family,
Bob and I are so sorry to hear of the passing of your Dad.
We remember Al and Thelma’s friendship when we lived across the street on 20th St NW Rochester.
We send your family our deepest condolences
Dear Kathy, Nancy, Mary, David, Patty and families,
Jerry and I are sending virtual hugs to all, as well as our condolences. We are so sorry and heart broken to hear of the loss of Uncle Al. He is now in heaven with Aunt Thelma.
It was a beautiful remembrance mass and we feel so fortunate to be able to attend via YouTube. We wish we could have been there in person to console you.
God bless you all.
Love,
Cousins,
Jerry and Marie
My sincere condolences to Al’s family. He was my first director when I joined IBM in 1982, and was a great technologist, leader, friend, and person. He treated us all like family, and always has a work of encouragement. It was an honor and pleasure to work for Mr Cutaia, and I will always be grateful to him for all he taught me.
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Our deepest sympathies to Nancy and your whole family.