Riverside Boat Club is sad to let you know of the passing of a Riverside great. RB Cutler (as he was known to many at the club) was our oldest and longest serving member. At a boat dedication some years ago, we were huddled in the repair bay on a rainey morning, and people were talking about how long they'd been at the club. A newer member asked RB how long he'd been a member and he thought for a moment and said, 'it must be 21'. And the person asking said, "wow, you've been a member for 21 years?" and RB responded, "No, 1921".
RB came to us as a very young coxswain for Nobles and Greenough, who rowed at Riverside at that time. He eventually switched to rowing and stayed at Riverside, eventually winning the 1936 Olympic trials in the four-with, which included his brother Roger. He once gave a wonderful talk at Riverside recounting the difficulties of staying in shape aboard ship during the 2 week trip to Berlin. When asked what it was like to be at the games in Berlin during Adolf Hitler's reign, he said that the world did not yet know that Hitler was a monster. At that time, he was just another world leader.
Visitors to RBC can see photo of the 1936 four-with at their trials win on the Riverside wall of fame, as well the photo of RB racing the Head of the Charles Regatta at the age of 86, looking very speedy in his Riverside stripes and orange Van Dusen.
Robert Bradley Cutler
CUTLER, Robert Bradley Formerly of Beverly Farms and Grafton, MA., died September 1 in Whitinsville, MA at 96. Born November 8, 1913 in Charles River, Mass. to Roger W. and former State Senator Leslie B. Cutler, he graduated Noble & Greenough School, Harvard College and the Harvard Graduate School of Design. He served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific in World War II. He practiced architecture in New York City, and Boston and Manchester, Mass. He researched extensively the assassinations of both John and Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King, published several books on his theories and established The Conspiracy Museum in Dallas, Texas to disprove the lone assassin conclusion of the Warren Commission's investigation of President Kennedy's assassination. He rowed for the United States in the coxed four at the 1936 Berlin Olympics with his brother Roger and three Harvard crew mates, then later competed annually into his early 80s at the Head of the Charles and Schuylkill races. He was an avid tennis player and organizer at the Essex County Club in Manchester for 40 years. He leaves his wife of 65 years, Claire, three sons, Robert B. Jr. of Garrison, NY, J. Christopher of Grafton MA., L. Bradley of Sacramento, CA, nine grandchildren and five great grandchildren. His daughter, Camilla Coolidge predeceased him. Arrangements are under the care of Roney Funeral Home 152 Worcester St N. Grafton MA 01536.
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09/09/2010 11:13:08 PM