Remembering Lucille Cuttler
IDA NorCal lost an enthusiastic advocate and volunteer with the death of long-time member Lucille Cuttler in early April. She died shortly after celebrating her 100th birthday on March 17, 2024—and it was a celebration, indeed. To mark her centennial, the City of San Francisco declared that date to be Lucille Cuttler Day in honor of her “transformative educational legacy.” Also in her honor, her family suggested that those who wished to mark her birthday with a gift could donate to IDA NorCal’s teacher training scholarship fund. Our branch is now the grateful recipient of $1,700 given in her name.
Many IDA NorCal members will remember Lucille for her colorful attire and boundless energy. She became a San Francisco resident at age 80, moving from the East Coast to be near family. Born in Jersey City, she earned a master’s degree in English from SUNY Stony Brook and subsequently served as an adjunct instructor of English at both that institution and the New York Institute of Technology. In 1986 she founded and served as executive director of Project Literacy/Outreach, Inc., with the goal of serving people with specific language learning differences who were unable to afford private remediation. The program recruited, trained, and supported volunteer tutors providing free services to adults and children. While in New York Lucille was active with the Suffolk Branch of IDA, winning an award for her work. In 2003, just before she moved to San Francisco, she received a New York State Senate Women of Distinction award.
Settled in San Francisco, Lucille became involved with IDA Nor Cal, the San Francisco Public Library Project Read and the Library Advisory Council. She continued to advocate politically for teacher training to include evidence-based instruction that would reach those with learning differences. Lucille was trained in Orton-Gillingham methods and tutored well into her 90’s. She will be missed!