Bruce G. Dutton's Obituary
Bruce Dutton, 89, of East Main Street in Stafford Springs died Monday, Oct. 14, peacefully at home.
He leaves his wife of 59 years, Nancy (Crawford) Dutton; a son, Randall Dutton and his wife, Lisa, of Tolland; a daughter, Rebecca (Dutton) McGrail and her husband, Brendan, of East Dover, VT.; four grandchildren: Sierra, Hunter, Morgan and William; and several nephews and nieces. He also leaves his sisters: Karen (Dutton) Petersen and her husband, Harold, and Donna Dutton and her husband, Steve, of Charlotte, NC. One brother, Laurence, predeceased him.
Long dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge, and committed to encouraging the idea in others, Bruce educated the students of Stafford High School as a history teacher for nearly 40 years before retiring in 2000, and few of his students could name a better teacher. A lover of nature and service to his community, Bruce became a professional arborist – a course he attended with his son – and tree warden for the town, in addition to his many years on the selectboard. Likewise dedicated to the Stafford Springs Congregational Church, he served as sexton, provided extensive financial support, and lent his resonant baritone to the choir. As a life-long athlete, Bruce found a way to make sports a large part of his limited spare time. He learned how to play field hockey just to coach his daughter’s team; he taught his children to ski, and Bruce continued to play competitive hockey with a men’s league until he was 81.
Bruce was born and raised in Concord, Mass., son of the late Raymond and Emily (MacAllister) Dutton. A graduate of Boston College, Bruce earned a master’s at Harvard University and a Ph.D from the University of Connecticut, publishing a thesis on the teaching of religion in U.S. public schools. In addition to the depth of his formal education, Bruce was a life-long autodidact, compiling a massive personal library on subjects ranging from art to zoology – each book in variably featuring the meticulous notes Bruce always wrote in the margins. As it grew, the library became increasingly heavy on transcendentalism, especially Henry Thoreau, his favorite writer, and biographies of Teddy Roosevelt, his favorite president. Today the library at the Dutton home also includes numerous volumes on everything from poetry to physics – reminders of a man who was equally likely to be quoting Robert Frost or building a model of Foucault’s pendulum for his grandkids.
When not reading, Bruce was just as dedicated to his writing. He penned regular letters to his kids as they grew, and published a series of books on the history of Stafford Springs. But it was his love of an English teacher and cheerleading coach he met in Vermont that truly lit him up inside. Having met the love of his life in the Green Mountain State, Vermont always held a special draw for Bruce. He purchased a parcel of land there in the ‘60s and hand built a cabin for his family, which they still enjoy to this day.
Calling hours will be Friday, Oct. 18, 2024 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Introvigne Funeral Home, Inc., 51 East Main St., Stafford Springs, CT. A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024 at Stafford Springs Cemetery, Monson Rd., Stafford Springs, CT, followed by music and fellowship at Stafford Springs Congregational Church, 3 Main St., Stafford Springs, CT. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Stafford Historical Society, 5 Spring St., Stafford Springs, CT 06076 and/or the Stafford Springs Congregational Church, 3 Main St., Stafford Springs, CT 06076. To leave a message of sympathy for his family, please visit: www.introvignefuneralhome.com
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