Vale

Emeritus Professor Stuart McCutcheon … 

It is with very great sadness that we heard of the death of Professor Stuart McCutcheon. He died suddenly of a heart attack on 6 January 2023. A huge congregation filled St Mary’s at Holy Trinity Cathedral, Auckland on Friday 13 January for his funeral service. This great attendance is a testimony to the number of people whose lives and careers he touched and his genuine interest and concern for others.

After 25 years as an academic, Professor McCutcheon was Assistant/Deputy Vice Chancellor at Massey University, 1994-2000, Vice Chancellor at Victoria University of Wellington 2000-2004 and Vice Chancellor of the University of Auckland 2005-2020.He was the only person to be Vice Chancellor at two NZ universities and strongly believed that every great country and city should be home to a fine university.

All those who attended the Educate Plus NZ Chapter Conference on Friday 9 September 2022 will remember his stimulating and informative keynote address, ‘Philanthropy: the exchange of value’, and how that exchange can form a foundation on which enduring philanthropic relationships can be built.

Stuart’s keynote address was a brilliant start to our conference day. After his presentation, delegates had the opportunity to meet him and enjoy further discussions over morning tea. Stuart was warm and welcoming, conversing easily with everyone. He was a person gifted with natural mana, good humour, sound judgement and showed amazing leadership qualities.

A number of us have known and worked with him during these past years and as a mentor he has inspired us. His selfless, humble and genuinely caring personality greatly endeared him to all those he met. 

We are so grateful to him for his enthusiastic and encouraging support for the Educate Plus NZ Chapter and its work assisting members in schools and universities. 

Here are a few sentences from the obituary written by his colleague and friend, Professor John Fraser, Dean, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland.

‘The world is a less interesting place without Stuart, but he leaves an indelible legacy. He modernised our university, led two philanthropic campaigns that were the largest in the country, and built a community of committed donors and friends through his personality and ability to convey a vision’.

Stuart is greatly missed. 

From Mandy McFarland our CEO Educate Plus Australasia, Dr Nicole Bassett our NZ Chapter President, Emma Zigan our NZ Chapter Vice President, and the Committees and Members throughout Australasia, we send our deepest sympathy to Stuart’s wife Deborah and their sons Alex and Charles.

Waiho ra kia tu takitahi ana nga whetu o te rangi