ST. PETERSBURG BEACH, Fla. – Dena “Dinny” Cutler, 100, passed away peacefully Feb. 5, 2008. She was the beloved wife of Shepard H. Cutler, to whom she was married for 53 years before he passed away in 1983. The daughter of Bernard and Dora Cohen, she is the last of nine siblings, six of whom lived in the Portland and Bangor areas. Dinny graduated from Portland High School in 1925 and lived in Portland for 54 years. In 1961, she and her husband moved to Long Beach, Calif., and after retirement in 1976, moved again to St. Petersburg Beach, Fla. During the 1940s and 1950s, Dinny was active in Little Theater. She wrote, acted and directed various productions, which were performed at both the Jewish Community Center Theater Group and the Portland Players. In 1959, she was president of the Ladies of Kiwanis of Portland. In addition to her theatrical involvement, she was known for her humorous poetry, which she often wrote for charity. Dinny is survived by three sons, Richard of Los Angeles, Donald of Napa, Calif., and Theodore of Sonoma, Calif.; as well as five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. She will be buried next to her husband in St. Petersburg, Fla. Donations in her memory may be sent to Temple Beth El, 400 Deering Ave., Portland, ME 04103.
DENA C. CUTLER
