Lionel (Tut) Gutteridge

When Lionel Gutteridge passed away in 1991, Layton Dodge paid tribute to him in the pages of the Cobourg Daily Star, writing that “Gutteridge leaves an indelible mark on the fabric of sport in our town … it was his efforts as a volunteer administrator that set him apart from the crowd and led to his touching a lot of people”. A lifelong resident of our community (with the notable exception of his military service in the Second World War) “Tut’s” list of positions and contributions as a volunteer is immense. A founding member of Cobourg Legion Minor Softball in 1957, he also served as the association’s first-ever President in 1960, and for over twenty years as their Equipment Manager. His time and administrative talents were not limited to our town’s diamonds; as he was also an executive member of the Cobourg Community Hockey League, including serving as CCHL President, while acting as a referee and later in life, alongside his wife Gladys, as the Gatekeeper for Cobourg Cougars home games. In recognition of his years of volunteer service he was recognized with the Cobourg Legion Branch 133 Certificate of Merit (for 30 years of service to minor sport), was bestowed the status of Lifetime Member of both Cobourg Legion Minor Softball and the Cobourg Community Hockey League, which named their Coach-of-the-Year (House League) trophy in his honour. It should also be noted that he was a skilled golfer, claiming the Dalewood Golf and Country Club’s Senior Championship six times (in the first nine years of the event). A month after his passing, and acting upon a suggestion by Layton Dodge, the name of the park that was located beside his home, formerly known as the Stuart Street Park was formally renamed the “Lionel “Tut” Gutteridge Memorial Park. “In his later years, when the existing Legion softball executive purposely avoided assigning him any specific duties because of his personal health problems, Tut was miffed,” wrote Layton after his passing. “Even then, he still wanted to contribute. That’s the kind of doer he truly was. To the very end, we respected “Tut” Gutteridge for all he accomplished and what he stood for. We were proud to consider him a friend. We shall miss him. Cobourg will seem a little poorer, a little emptier now that he has gone to a better place – but his legacy will live on here forever”.