Richard "Dickens" Cutler

October 13, 1942 – December 11, 2014

Dr. Richard Cutler, often known as Dickens to his friends, passed away at Seton Hospital Medical Center on December 11, 2014, after a brief illness. Members of his family were with him as he peacefully made the transition from this existence to the next stage of the spiritual journey, a journey that he had long been following.

Richard was born in Inglewood, California, and grew up in Southern California. He held degrees from UC Berkeley, UC Santa Cruz and UT Austin. For the past 32 years Richard lived in or near Austin.

He was an Eagle Scout, an achievement that shaped his life by giving him an appreciation of nature, in all its variety and beauty, and an ability to fix, adapt and jerry-rig things as necessary to solve everyday problems. The Boy Scout motto is "Be Prepared," and he lived that motto. Scouting also strengthened his desire to be of service to the people around him.

Dr. Cutler was a veteran and served in Turkey as a captain in the Air Force during the Vietnam War. He was a teacher who had a special heart for those of his students who were returning veterans from Afghanistan and Iraq. Outside the classes he taught, he also offered to any who were interested his mastery of T'ai Chi Chih as way to restore body and soul. He taught T'ai Chi Chih for many years in Austin.

Dr. Cutler was an adjunct professor in the Radio, Television and Film Department at Austin Community College. He also had been elected an officer for the Adjunct Faculty Association at the college for a number of years and served as president of the association twice. He only recently completed his last term as president. In the past few years Richard taught at the Art Institute of Austin, Laguna Gloria Art School, Dougherty Arts Center and the Art Pad Studio. He spent two years as an independent art coach and assisted many artists in uncovering a new approach to the process and vision of creating their art.

If one word were to sum up the meaning of Richard's life it would be "service." It was always his goal to make things better for the people he touched in life by giving of himself. In ways small and large, he was generous with his knowledge and ideas, his time and talent, his remarkable good humor and his love. Most of all, it was impossible to be with Richard and ever be bored. Indefatigable curiosity leads not only to advanced degrees from the University of Texas, but also to dinner table conversation on Japanese gardens, digital film production techniques, actors and directors, roadside diners, and the spectacular beauty of clouds in the Mojave desert.

Richard was a teacher: he shared his knowledge of film, communications, video production and announcing with his students at ACC. He was a mentor: he helped his students find opportunities and identify their goals. He was an advocate and a builder of relationships: for more than 7 years he was an officer of the ACC Adjunct Faculty Association, including two terms as president, in which he strived to gain concrete recognition for the contributions made by adjunct faculty in an educational structure in which adjuncts carry the bulk of teaching load. He was a tutor: he helped foreign students to write papers in a language that is often mysterious and irrational. He was also a certified master and teacher of T'ai Chi Chih . In all these roles through ACC he served the college, its students and its faculty.

Richard also was active in his church. He served as a liturgical and Eucharistic minister as a member of St. Louis Catholic Church and thrived in the fellowship he found there. He also taught English as a Second Language Classes at the church.

Richard was a father who did that most extraordinary thing – he loved his children unconditionally and made the most of every hour he spent with them. He was a husband who loved totally and generously and passionately. He was a friend who enabled you to blossom in his company. He was a brother who was always there for you.

The details and accomplishments of Richard's life are not the reason that he is mourned by so many today. It is the joy he brought to us that we now miss. To have Richard in your life was to be a recipient of one of the greatest gifts a person could receive. It is the joy of having known him that we will now celebrate.

The family of Dr. Cutler extends their deep appreciation to the doctors and nurses who cared for Richard on the cardiology floor and in the ICU at Seton Medical Center. In particular, Richard's wife Heidi is grateful for the compassionate way everyone responded to every request and concern she had during the days she was at Richard's bedside in Unit A in the ICU. She will be forever grateful.

Richard is survived by his wife Heidi Cutler, his daughter Danielle Cutler, his son Christopher and Chris's wife Alexa, his sister-in-law Susan Gentz, and his grandchildren Alyssa and Wylie Wallin, and Mackenzie and Cassidy Cutler.

Visitation will be held at the Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home on Monday December 15 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held at Weed-Corley-Fish Chapel at 3125 North Lamar Blvd. on December 16 at 4:30 p.m.