Renovated commons area at NVCC named after Middlebury resident Joseph J. Cutrali

Joseph J. Cutrali

WATERBURY (Dec. 14, 2006) — When Joseph J. Cutrali passed away Nov. 14, Naugatuck Valley Community College lost more than its building maintenance supervisor.

“He was the ultimate ‘can do’ guy,” said NVCC President Dr. Richard L. Sanders. “Often during my years here, we would be planning an event or looking to make major improvements to support the teaching of classes and someone would say, ‘It can’t be done.’ Then Joe would say, ‘Doc, we can do it, and at half the cost.’ And true to his word, he would get a team together and do it.”

Cutrali, a Middlebury resident who was employed by the state and NVCC for more than 30 years, was honored today for his dedication to the college community in a ceremony that gave his name to the last project he worked on.

The Joseph J. Cutrali Commons, located in Founders Hall, includes a dining room, kitchen, computer classroom, student lounge and performance stage. Before its recent renovation, the space was home to a kitchen and cafeteria.

“Despite his failing health, he put his heart and soul into this project, just like every other project he worked on,” said James Troup, NVCC’s dean of administration.

Cutrali was involved in the construction of every building on the NVCC campus except Founders Hall.

He began work in the facilities department at Waterbury State Technical College in 1975, and later worked as an employee of the Higher Education Center. After Naugatuck Valley Community-Technical College was formed by the merger of Mattatuck Community College and Waterbury State Tech in 1992, he served as building maintenance supervisor until he passed away.

Cutrali’s daughter Elizabeth “Libby” Kennedy attended today’s ceremony, which included the installation of a plaque in Cutrali Commons outlining her father’s contributions to the college. She also accepted his award for 30 years of service to the state.

Located on Chase Parkway off exit 18 on Interstate 84, NVCC offers more than 100 associate degrees and credit certificates, as well as hundreds of non-credit programs. It serves 35 communities across western Connecticut from Litchfield to Waterbury to Seymour to Southbury and Danbury.