JOHN NELSON ‘JACK’ CUTLIFFE

MELBOURNE, Fla. – John Nelson “Jack” Cutliffe, 74, beloved husband, father and grandfather, passed away June 20, 2008, in Melbourne, Fla., with his beloved wife of 51 years, Sylvia (Treneer) Cutliffe, by his side. He was born Dec. 25, 1933, in Old Town, the second child born to Dawson and Thelma (MacLean) Cutliffe. He attended Old Town schools and graduated from Old Town High School. While in high school, he served as class president for four years, also earning varsity letters in football, basketball, baseball and track. His senior year he was captain of the 1952 Maine State Champion Basketball Team and was the recipient of the schools Outstanding Athlete Award. Jack attended Maine Maritime Academy, where he lettered in football, basketball and baseball. He excelled in athletics, but is best remembered as a great leader, mentoring schoolmates and friends. Jack described as the highlight of his midshipman days an invitation, as a battalion officer, to escort a Rockland Lobster Festival pageant queen candidate by the name of Sylvia Treneer. Jack and Sylvia married April 13, 1957, in Old Town. After graduation from Maine Maritime Academy, with a degree in marine science, Jack began his career sailing aboard merchant ships on the Great Lakes. In 1957 he entered the Navy, completing two years of active duty serving as an officer and pilot stationed in Florida and Texas. In his early years, shortly after the birth of their first son, Glenn, Jack joined the Naval Reserve and served 21 years, retiring in 1980, holding the rank of commander to both the Military Training Division and Military Sealift Command. Jack and Sylvia settled in the Bangor area and had a second son, Jason. In 1964 Jack graduated from the University of Maine, Orono, with a degree in psychology. From 1969 to 1978 he worked for the university, holding several positions, including director of Student Union and Community Services. During his years with the university, he also worked as an oncall (WAE) inspector with the Immigration and Naturalization Service, processing international flights arriving at Bangor International Airport. In 1978 after graduating from Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, Glynco, Ga., he and Sylvia relocated to Calais. There he worked at the port of entry for the Immigration and Naturalization Service, remaining there until his retirement in 1996. Highlights of Jack’s 26 years as an inspector include numerous outstanding performance awards, along with a processing detail to Southeast Asia in 1983, interviewing war refugees in camps along the borders of Laos and Cambodia. In 2007 Jack and Sylvia celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with their children and grandchildren in Clearwater, Fla. Later that year, in an event that brought his life and achievements full circle, Jack was inducted into Maine Maritime Academy Athletic Hall of Fame. In a poignant acceptance speech, he thanked his parents; wife, Sylvia; coaches and classmates reflecting on the experiences as a midshipman that shaped his life. Jack was an avid golfer and he and Sylvia enjoyed spending summers at their camp on Branch Lake. Surviving, along with his beloved wife, Sylvia of Melbourne, Fla.; are two sons, Glenn and wife, Donna, of Brunswick and Jason and his wife, Temara, of Tampa, Fla.; grandchildren, Brittany, Glenn II, Gabrielle and Jack; sister-in-law, Tina (Treneer) Carmichael of Springfield, Va.; several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his mother and father; and a brother, Ronald Cutliffe. A memorial service celebrating Jack’s life will be held 1 p.m. July 19 at Maine Maritime Academy, Castine. Memorial contributions in Jack’s memory may be made to Maine Maritime Academy, Development Office, 101 Leavitt Hall, Castine, ME 04420, annual fund for memorial contributions. Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.Legacy.com.