Interim special

The pro-life community suffered a double blow in March with the deaths of committed supporters Dr. Art Dunn of Toronto, and Anthony Kuttschrutter of Madoc, Ontario.

Dr. Dunn, 73, died suddenly March 24 at his home in mid-town Toronto. Born in Almonte, in eastern Ontario, Dr. Dunn was a proud member of the University of Toronto’s School of Medicine class of 1947. Upon graduation, he began a long and distinguished career in anesthesiology at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto. At one time, Dr. Dunn was head of the anesthesiology department at St. Michael’s.

Dr. Dunn chose to stay active in medicine upon his retirement from St. Michael’s at the end of the 1980s. He become involved with a program bringing important medical expertise to under-serviced regions in northern Ontario.

Dr. Dunn’s dedication to the medical profession was matched by his support of pro-life objections. Founding members of Campaign Life Coalition recall Dr. Dunn as a frequent visitor at the organization’s old offices on Queen Street. On many occasions, Dr. Dunn would come directly from the hospital to the Campaign Life office with a generous financial contribution.

“From the earliest days, Dr. Dunn understood and appreciated the seriousness of the pro-life message,” recalled Grace Petrasek of Toronto. “He always struck me as a man of the highest integrity and a sense of fairness.”

His funeral Mass was held March 28 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish in Toronto.

On March 23, the pro-life community was saddened with the passing of Anthony Kuttschrutter (1922-1998) of Madoc. He leaves his wife, Willie, five children and three grandchildren.

Anthony, lovingly referred to as “Ton” by his wife Willie, was unshakable in his defense of the preborn.  Representing the Family Coalition Party, running the Hastings Right to Life, and regulars at all Campaign Life Coalition conferences, Anthony and Willie were inspiring to all pro-life supporters.

All who knew Anthony saw his unwavering faith in God and his church. On his way home from the hospital on his final bout with cancer, Anthony insisted on attending Mass as it was a “first Friday.”

Truly devoted to God through His Holy Mother, Anthony was described by family and friends as a true friend, caring, fun loving, self-sacrificing, unpretentious and accepting. Most notable was his great sense of humor.

Anthony’s funeral eulogy given at Mass by his brother-in-law, Father Joe Burg. Fr. Joe delivered a stalwart recommendation of the faith and was able to use Anthony to exemplify the virtues necessary for salvation.

Anthony served our Lord in his wife, his children, his friends and especially in the preborn.

Father Joe’s farewell at the close of his homily included the words,  “Totziens Ton!” – a Dutch saying for “See you later Ton!”

– with files from John-Henry Westen