Charles L. Cutler
Sandan
(1930-1999)

Born in Springfield, Massachusetts, he attended Harvard University and was a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley. Charlie Cutler started Judo in the spring of 1972, at the age of forty-one. After spending a winter watching his son, Chase participating in Judo, he decided to give it a try. Charlie joined the Middletown Judo Club Adult Class after some encouragement from sixty year old, Sensei Bob Drescher. Sensei Drescher had started Judo when he was in his fifties.

Starting out in Judo was tough for Charlie. After workouts, he was sore and bruised. What nearly did him in was a throw called Tomenage Tomenage is a throw where tori falls onto his back and uke rolls over him. Unfortunately, Charlie usually forgot to put out his arm and roll, and would go headfirst into the mat. But Charlie was developing a very strong Judo spirit. Bob saw that spirit, and in 1972, made him secretary/treasurer of the Middletown Judo Club. In 1973, Bob asked Charlie, then just a green belt, to teach the kids' class. With Charlie volunteering his time and knowledge, the YMCA's Judo program was rapidly growing. He soon divided the group into a beginner's class and an advanced class on Saturday mornings. He had to limit enrollment to a maximum of thirty-five students in the advan9ed class, which was often filled to capacity. Sometimes kids were even turned away because Charlie had interested so many people in the sport.

Bob passed away in 1974. Louie LaPila, Sensei preceding Bob, once again led the club. Together, Charlie and Louie kept the Middletown Judo Club strong. Meanwhile, Steve, previously a YMCA front desk employee, would often joke with Charlie, asking him to give someone a "good evening Judo flip". Charlie would just smile. After a while, Steve would just point to someone and Charlie would laugh. Charlie always introduced himself to Marty, a. blind boarder at the YMCA, though Marty always seemed to recognize him. The two would briefly talk about the weather or current events. Charlie, Steve and Marty all seemed to be fixtures at the "Y".

Charlie ran the beginner's class until his death, with Louie teaching both the children's advanced and the adult classes. On Saturday, October 9,1999, Charlie was warming up a kids' beginner's class, as he had done so many times before, and suffered a heart attack. On October 12,1999, he passed away.

He demanded more from himself than he did from his students. He very rarely missed a class. Charlie, the members of the Middletown Judo Club will miss you. Largely due to your efforts, the Middletown Judo Club is still around today. Thank you.

His son, Chase Cutler, wrote: "Dad was the kind of Sensei who never missed practice, who was happy working off to the side teaching a beginner. Employees at the YMCA came and went, but Dad stayed (as a volunteer) for 25 years, teaching Judo. I will continue where he left off."