Honoring a Legacy

​ “Art should be a part of everyone’s life.” It’s a philosophy Dale Kutz expressed often. As an art teacher for Brunswick City Schools, he helped mold young minds and instill creativity for more than 30 years. Aside from his teaching career, Dale was also a gifted artist in his own right. The Art Space Gallery in Akron, Canton Museum of Art and Lakeland Community College are just a few of the public venues that exhibited his paintings.

Dale developed ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), a neurological disorder also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. While ALS ultimately took away his ability to create art, it did not have the power to destroy the meaning art had in Dale’s life or his legacy in the community.

Dale’s Hospice of Medina County (HMC) care team worked with his wife, Connie, and the staff at Life Care Center of Medina to host one more exhibition of his paintings. It was a chance for Dale’s extended family and the entire the community to come together to say, “thank you” for the many lives he touched. 

Dale’s entire hospice team was also on hand including HMC pet therapy volunteer Marcia Crabtree with her dog, Molly, who had visited Dale to provide companionship and comfort, and volunteer Sherrill Rundle, who had shared the gift of music by playing and singing his favorite Motown tunes.

Editor’s note: Dale passed away peacefully with his family by his side Monday, January 22, 2018.