Nicholas Paul Cutean - 88

12/6/1930 - 1/7/2019

Chicago Heights, Illinois

Nicholas Paul Cutean, December 6, 1930 - January 7, 2018 was a devoted husband and loving father with an incredible capacity for practicality, who taught by his integrity and example. Loyal and a wonderful mentor, he was a lifelong industrial engineer whose working years were spent at Inland and Acme Steel, Libby McNeill and Libby, Thrall Car, Evans Rail Car, and Rapid Mounting and Printing, all the while helping develop computer programs for manufacturing schedules.  Preceded in death by his wife and love of 65 years, Mary nee Romandini, his parents Paul and Mary Cutean, sister Veronica M. Russell nee Cutean, and his son Bruce.  Nick is survived by his sons Brian and Thom, his daughter Nicki, two grandsons William Cutean Eppler and Charlie Martin Cutean, cousins John Cutean, Sally Schwandt, and other deceased cousins, uncles and aunts George and Theodora, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends.  Nick's life-long love of music was evident to anyone who knew him. He played trumpet in his high school band and in a Romanian dance band. He had an exhaustive knowledge of composers and their contributions to classical music, swing jazz, opera, show tunes, and eastern European folk songs. He could identify many pieces from hearing just a few bars and was a truly great whistler.  He taught his children to listen with both pleasure and a critical ear and loved marches and classical music, novelty tunes, and Broadway soundtracks. Sitting together listening to Sousa marches or Stravinsky suites, picking out the different instrumental sounds, singing them to identify them – “Do you hear the piccolo? It’s singing this…”, or, “The tympani is saying this…”, gave each of his children the gift of music appreciation from a very young age.  An astute observer of life and its processes, Nick had a scientist mind and a fascination of the way things are designed and how they work. His incredible workshop was filled with the tools of many trades and he could, and did, use them all well. He carved birds and cars, built airplane models and windchimes, repaired and restored toys, clocks and appliances. He painted in fine oil and watercolors and maintained his own home by doing plumbing, electrical, carpentry, landscaping and gardening throughout his life.  He was proud of family, his long career as an industrial engineer and especially proud of his two grandsons, Will and Charlie.  Visitation and services at St. Agnes Church, 1501 Chicago Rd., Chicago Heights, on Monday, January 14th from 9:00 AM until time of funeral mass at 10:00 AM. A private family interment at Assumption Cemetery will follow. The family respectfully asks friends and family not to bring flowers.  For further service information, please contact Panozzo Bros. Funeral Home, Chicago Heights at 708-481-9230 or panozzobros.com.