Saratoga Springs, NY - Harry J. Dutcher, of Meadowbrook Road, died January 12, 2012, in the intensive care unit of Saratoga Hospital. He was 66.
Born August 21, 1945, in Newark, NJ, he was the son of Isabelle and James Dutcher. Harry grew up in New Jersey before attending Florida State University as an undergraduate. He completed his studies and received a bachelor’s in English literature from Bloomfield College in NJ. He subsequently served for three years in the U.S. Army, including a tour in Vietnam, for which he was awarded a Purple Heart and a Distinguished Service Medal. On August 14, 1971, he married his friend and sweetheart, Monica King of Irvington, NJ. Harry followed her career advice and attended Drexel University School of Library Science, obtaining his M.L.S. in1973. He began his professional career at the Atlantic County Library in Mays Landing, NJ and later took the position of assistant director at Kitchigami Regional Library in Pine River, Minnesota. His beloved daughter, Kate, was born in March 1978. The Nursery staff told Harry and Monica that Kate “cried in a New Jersey accent.” In1979 he took the position of audio/visual consultant with the Lincoln Trails Library System in Champaign-Urbana, IL.
Harry and Monica wanted to return east to raise their daughter near family. He happily saw and answered an ad in the New York Times for director of the Saratoga Springs Public Library. Harry started the position in August 1982. Recent articles in the Saratogian and Schenectady Gazette detailed his 25-year career at the helm of the SSPL, where he was responsible for galvanizing the necessary support and ultimately overseeing the construction of the new state-of-the-art Saratoga Library.
A longtime folk music enthusiast, Harry was also a member of the board of his cherished Caffé Lena in Saratoga and he often indicated that this historic venue was one of the principal reasons he chose to come to Saratoga. Harry was also a member of the Saratoga Rotary Club and was actively involved in the Saratoga Literacy Volunteers Program.
People were always struck by Harry’s modesty, intelligence and unique sense of humor and irony. His disarming personality never failed to win people over.
Survivors include his wife, Monica; daughter, Kate (John) Buglino; siblings, Maureen (Michael) Sumner, and Robert (Mariah), James (Linda), Terry (Maggie) and Michael (Patricia) King; and eight nephews and seven nieces.
A Memorial Service for Harry will be announced at a later date. Those wishing to honor his memory are asked to do so through a contribution to the Saratoga Public Library, 49 Henry St., Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.
Arrangements are under the direction of the William J. Burke & Sons/Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Home, 628 North Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY, (518) 584-5373.
Online remembrances may be made at www.burkefuneralhome.com.
