Former Seeing Eye CEO Jim Kutsch, an accomplished public speaker, had to admit he was at a loss for words.
“I never thought anything I did or said would be cast in stone,” he told a gathering of family, friends and trustees who surprised him Thursday at The Seeing Eye headquarters in Morris Township.
Cast in bronze, actually.
The famed guide dog school unveiled a statue of Kutsch, who served as president and CEO from 2006 to 2019. He was the school’s first graduate to lead the organization.
His statue, in a garden outside the CEO office, shows him kneeling with Colby, one of nine Seeing Eye dogs to guide him since an accident blinded him as a teenager. Stones at the base of the statue name each of these canine companions.
Kutsch, 70, thought he was coming for the unveiling of his portrait, a tradition honoring all leaders of the nonprofit philanthropy. He got that, too.
Remarks by Seeing Eye CEO Glenn Hoagland, Jason Kutsch, Chairman Tom Duffy, and Jim Kutsch, Sept. 23, 2021. Video courtesy of The Seeing Eye:
But the statue is only the fourth one commissioned by The Seeing Eye in its 92-year history. The most famous of these, near the Morristown Green, depicts Seeing Eye co-founder Morris Frank and his German shepherd, Buddy.
Organizers finally had to let Kutsch’s wife in on the surprise, for reasons of family logistics. Keeping it secret from her husband wasn’t easy.
“I was busy sneaking around the house. It’s hard to get anything by this guy,” joked Ginger Kutsch, also a graduate of The Seeing Eye.
Trustees came from as far as Toronto, and the Kutschs’ children and grandchildren traveled from Florida, Virginia and Pennsylvania for the celebration.
Guests had no trouble finding words to describe Jim Kutsch, Ph.D. The former college professor holds degrees in psychology and computer science, and was an executive at AT&T, Bell Labs and Convergys Labs before joining The Seeing Eye.
“Quite frankly, I’ve been in awe of him,” said Seeing Eye Chairman Tom Duffy.
“He is remarkable in terms of what he has done in his life…he is one of the world-class CEOs, runners of an organization, nonprofit or otherwise, and I’ve seen a lot of them. More importantly, he’s just an unbelievable human being.”
“Really, you exemplify the independence and dignity and travel skills of all of our graduates,” said Kutsch’s successor, Glenn Hoagland.
“You’ve not only led and strengthened and sustained the school for all these years, but you’ve really contributed tremendously to the guide dog profession. Through your sharing of your knowledge and your expertise, you really supported the development of the guide dog profession throughout the world,” Hoagland said.
Former Gov. Tom Kean, a trustee of The Seeing Eye, said Kutsch would have been a star anywhere.
“I’ve worked with a lot of CEOs. Almost nobody’s better than Jim. So he could have done anything,” the governor said. “The fact that he gave his time and his efforts to the Seeing Eye is wonderful. It made this place much better, and made our graduates better.”
The most moving tribute, however, came from Kutsch’s son Jason, a Navy officer.
“He’s taught us gratitude, and the importance of saying thank you and letting people know their service is appreciated,” he said, choking back tears.
“He’s taught us it’s never too late to apologize and set something straight. That education is a lifelong process to be enjoyed, and not a straight path to be followed. And through his actions and lifelong accomplishments, he’s shown us that no goal is out of reach.”
Jim Kutsch called it an honor and privilege to serve The Seeing Eye, “the most important place in my life.”
His relationship with The Seeing Eye began in 1970, when he was a student at West Virginia University. He came to New Jersey to be matched with his first guide dog, Sheba, a German shepherd.
“The Seeing Eye dogs, and philosophy, and other graduates and students that I met while they were here, all had a very profound impact on my life as a younger person,” he said.
Decades later, Kutsch would preside over expansion of the Morris Township headquarters and dog breeding facility.
Since retiring, Kutsch has indulged his hobbies, investing and ham radio; he taught Morse code online during the pandemic. He and Ginger are considering relocating from Morris Township to Maine, where they have family.
Only one attendee seemed unimpressed Thursday.
Easton, Kutsch’s guide dog, snoozed through the speeches.
“The key points of my life are not necessarily the key points of his life,” Kutsch said. “His key points involve chasing balls in the backyard.”
Thank you, Linda.
Such a compelling story, Kevin, and you tell is so well. Thank you!
A great honor to someone so deserving. Jim taught me Morse code, WN8SPL, while I was an electrical engineering student at WVU. In return, I designed an audible pen so he could read lights and indicators. His dog then, Sheba, was such an impressive guide dog.