Page created by: Sue Shutte

Richard “Dick” Shutte (August 29, 1942- July 16, 2023)

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Richard “Dick” Shutte. Dick was born in Paterson, NJ on August 29, 1942 and passed away peacefully at his home on July 16, 2023. Dick spent his entire life in his beloved community of Wanaque.

Dick attended St. Francis of Assisi elementary school, Midland Park High School for two years, and completed his high school career at Lakeland Regional High School. A standout athlete, he excelled at playing basketball and baseball. Shortly after completing his high school education, Dick received multiple invitations to try out for major league baseball teams including the Philadelphia Phillies, the Milwaukee Braves, and Cincinnati Reds.

After starting his collegiate career at Rockland County Community College, Dick transferred to Montclair State College where he played as a member of both the varsity basketball and baseballs teams. He majored in physical education and received his bachelor’s degree in 1967.

Around this time of his life, Dick played shortstop in the Metropolitan Baseball League for the Wayne A’s and the Bergenfield Teamsters.

Dick then began his storied career as a teacher at Memorial Elementary School in West Paterson. In 1969, he accepted a position at Lakeland Regional High School where he would stay until his retirement in 2001. As a physical education teacher, he shaped the lives of countless students over the course of more than 30 years. Additionally, as a varsity baseball and cross-country coach, he was a mentor to hundreds of young athletes.

Dick’s 20 year baseball coaching career at Lakeland is legendary: he coached baseball teams to eleven separate conference championships between 1969 and 1989. Additionally, his 1974, 1976, 1981 baseball teams took home State Championships. Several of his former players were drafted and enjoyed major league careers. Numerous others followed in his footsteps and became coaches themselves.

Dick’s 40 year cross-country career was equally impressive. Under his guidance, his team won the Passaic County Championship and the Group II State Championship in1969. He also guided his teams to Conference Division titles every year from 1981 through 1985. And in 1998, his team won what is referred to as the “triple crown:” the Conference, the County, and State titles.

Coach Shutte’s skills were recognized multiple times in Coach of the Year honors at the Conference and County levels for both baseball and cross-country. He received the All Star High School Coach Award by the New York News (1971) and Coach of the Year honors from both the Herald News and the New York Daily News (1974). In 1982, the New Jersey Interscholastic Coaches Association bestowed him with their Honor Award, and in 2002 he was inducted into the New Jersey Scholastic Coaches Association Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the Old Timer’s Athletic Association of Greater Paterson’s Hall of Fame for both his coaching career in cross-country (2001) and baseball (2015). His high school alma matters both inducted Dick into their Halls of Fame, Midland Park 1976 and Lakeland in 2008.

The majority of Dick’s life revolved around athletic competition, whether officiating basketball or baseball games, coaching at baseball clinics, or simply teaching his children the fundamentals of sports, he always found a way to stay active. In addition to these, he enjoyed leisure sports like golf and horse racing and was an avid fan of the NY Mets, Notre Dame football, and the NY Knicks.

Dick and his family enjoyed vacationing every summer in their RV and traveling throughout the US, but his favorite location was always Saratoga, NY. Throughout his retirement years, he continued to be a supporter the Lakeland Lancers and was a fixture in his lawn chair watching home games from the outfield.

By Dick’s side sharing the joy of victory and the agony of defeat for 48 years was his wife, Janet (nee Proll). He was as dedicated to his family as he was to his teams. He is survived by his three children: Dan of Fort Mill, SC; Sue and her husband Eric Pain of Ringwood, NJ; Audrey and her husband Doug Gilbert, of Montclair, VA, and his four grandchildren: Deirdre and Nico Shutte, and Erin and Ben Gilbert. Dick is also survived by his brother, Kenneth and his wife Jane of Chatham, NJ, along with nieces Miranda and Kaylin; and sister-in-law Diane Stackpole and her husband Charles of York, SC. Many cousins, friends, colleagues, team members, and students complete his circle of love.

Dick was predeceased by his loving parents, Augustine and Beatrice (nee Garbarino) Shutte, several beloved aunts, uncles, and his cherished cousin John “Cork” Shutte.

Dick was a devoted parishioner of St. Francis of Assisi Church for his entire life. He was a member of the Old Timer’s Athletic Association of Greater Paterson, Passaic County Coaches Association, the National Education Association, New Jersey Educational Association, and Passaic County Retired Educators Association.

Arrangements will be made through D’Agostino Funeral Home in Haskell, NJ.

The family deeply appreciates all contributions in Dick's name to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.