Richard A. Gutmann

Richard A. Gutmann Local entrepreneur and community volunteer dies Charlestown- Richard A. Gutmann, 85, of Charlestown, NH died September 25, 2007 at the Sullivan County Health Care. He was born in Shelton, CT on August 15, 1922 the son of George and Margaret (Shehee) Gutmann. Mr. Gutmann enlisted in to the United States Navy and served four years in the Pacific theater attaining the rank of Chief Petty Officer and a Plank Officer aboard the Destroyer, USS Smalley. Upon discharge Mr. Gutmann worked in the engineering division of General Electric, Hartford, Ct. and was part of the team who developed the Koiled Kords division instrumental in transforming previously straight telephone cords to the coiled cords used world wide. Mr. Gutmann graduated suma cum laud and valedictorian from the University of New Haven and received the Dale Carniegie Award. He then joined Whitney Blake & Co., in New Haven, Ct. progressing from his engineering position to Vice-president o\and General Manager. Mr. Gutmann moved to Bellows Falls, Vermont in 1965 to operate Walpole Wire Co., Inc, a division of Whitney Blake in North Walpole, NH. Mr. Gutmann was instrumental in building and set up of operations of the Whitney Blake Co. of Vermont in Bellows Falls Industrial Park. In 1970 he formed his own business, Guthrie Inc., and started electrical-mechanical operations in Bellows Falls, Vermont manufacturing hairdyers and packaging hair color kits. Guthrie Inc. became a major employer in the area and grew to require a larger facility which lead to the purchase of the former Walpole Wire Co. building in North Walpole, NH. Guthrie Inc., operated with two shifts and employed over two hundred employees until he retired in 1985 and sold the building, that currently is the Discount Food and Beverage Store. Mr. Gutmann retired to Fort Meyers, Florida, but returned to his home in Bellows Falls, Vermont every summer as he was still active in the community and an ardent member and former Club Champion of the Bellows Falls Country Club. Mr. Gutmann was a former President of the Bellows Falls Chamber of Commerce, an active participant in the Greater Falls Development Commission, an active leader in the Knights of Columbus and the Bishop Fund. Mr. Gutmann was renowned for his innovation, energy, enthusiasm and commitment for the betterment of the Bellows Falls greater community. In 1995 he relocated to Charlstown, NH and became a full time volunteer for the SEVCA, driving individuals to and from medical and hospital appointments. His signature yellow Cadillac was constantly on the road, and he would often take his appointees out for coffee or to McDonald’s. One mother of a young child that Mr. Gutmann drove three times a week to Boston to receive treatment for cancer recounts that trips with Mr. Gutmann in his “big yellow car” and stops for a Happy Meal kept her child’s spirits up during his treatment ordeal. Mr. Gutmann retired from SEVCA in 2002. Prior to his retirement from SEVCA he was nominated for Volunteer of the Year. Members of his surviving family include his wife, Zeta (Price) Gutmann, a daughter and son in-law, Kathleen and Robert Eames of Charlestown, NH, a daughter and son in-law, Margaret and Marc Bergeron of Wellington, Fla., a daughter Dianna Liimantinen of Contoocook, NH, a daughter, Wendy Littlefield of Saco, Maine, a son and daughter in-law, Richard and Denise Gutmann, Jr., of Concord, NH and a daughter, Carol Walker of Concord, NH; eight grandchildren, a brother and sister in-law, George and Joan Gutmann of Shelton, CT. and many nieces and nephews. His graveside service will be held at 2:00PM on Friday at the NH State Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen, NH. everyone will meet at the cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association of Vermont and New Hampshire: PO Box 1139, Montpelier, VT 05601 or 10 Ferry Drive, Concord, NH 03301 or to the NH State Veterans Cemetery, 603-796-2026 for more details.