APTOS, CA ---- Stephen “Steve” William Cutillo escaped death six times that we know of before passing away on Monday, August 31, 2026, on death’s seventh attempt at the age of 77 with his wife of 47 years, Susan “Sue” Cobean Cutillo, daughter Cat Cutillo, and friend Martha Coria, by his side.
Steve was born on December 28, 1948, in Hudson, Massachusetts, to the parents of Lola Rose (Valentini) Cutillo and Ralph Cutillo. Steve was a smart and resilient character who made friends wherever he went. He enjoyed life’s simple pleasures: Good food with his loved ones and a good laugh. He would light up around a meal, charming the table with funny stories, punchlines, his trademark laughter, hand gestures, and his turquoise eyes. He always said, “Happiness was having something to look forward to.”
He grew up in an Italian American household in Massachusetts surrounded by his mother, grandmother, grandfather and great-grandmother. His father was serving in the Korean War during Steve’s early years. His younger brother, William “Bill” Cutillo, was born in 1953. From the start, they were a well-matched duo, different in all the right ways. Steve would recount as kids if there was a fresh loaf of bread in the kitchen, Bill would hollow out the loaf’s inside, leaving Steve his favorite part, the crust. Their well-matched differences continued throughout his life and Bill remained one of Steve’s most trusted allies.
He graduated in 1966 from Coyle High School in Taunton, MA, where he excelled in both academics and running on the track team. His parents owned the Stone Bridge Inn in Tiverton, Rhode Island, where Steve spent holidays and summers waiting tables during high school and college. He earned a college degree in English from the University of Notre Dame in 1970. He earned his law degree in 1974 from Loyola University in New Orleans where he met many lifelong friends, including Greg Hosmer. He loved his late-night law school study groups and analyzing the academics of law. His first job out of law school was working for the Los Angeles Department of Justice. Two years later, he moved back to his hometown of Taunton, Massachusetts, to open a private law practice with lifelong friend, Jim Fagan, and was later joined by Dan Goldrick.
In Taunton, he met his future wife, Sue, and they were married on September 29, 1979. Sue was the head of a counseling program working alongside Steve’s childhood friend, John Colton. In his final weeks, Steve said in video memories that Sue was the love of his life. They welcomed their daughter Catherine “Cat” Cutillo in 1980.
In 1983, he moved his family to Gilford, New Hampshire, to join his father and brother, Ralph and Bill Cutillo, in the family business of owning and operating Steele Hill Resorts, the Summit Resort, and other real estate ventures. It was a career he held for 25 years until his retirement.
Steve’s favorite winter getaway with Sue was Marco Island, FL. He cherished many other travel adventures with loved ones including Panama Canal cruises, trips to Italy, Ireland, London, Prince Edward Island and a very memorable fishing trip to Alaska. Together, Sue and Steve built their dream home on Countryside Drive in Gilford, NH, with panoramic views of the Lakes Region, a home they enjoyed for three decades until they downsized in 2021, moving first to Essex Junction, VT, to live near their daughter’s family for three years before moving with Cat’s family across the country to Aptos, CA, in 2024.
In his final years, Steve loved attending his grandkids’ sports games and dance performances, going out for Italian food, stopping for maple walnut ice cream with his family and sitting by the ocean. Steve was given a new lease on life half a dozen times, including a quadruple bypass in 2014, a liver transplant in 2017, and dialysis since 2024. His miraculous durability marveled doctors, one cardiologist even commenting that he “must be made of something else.” In 2025, he was diagnosed with lung cancer and in March he was told he had less than six months to live. Steve had a strong sense of survivorship throughout most of his lung cancer journey, but in his final weeks he embraced a newfound peace full of love and little moments with his family. In his final minutes, he miraculously sat up from three days of deep unresponsiveness, opened his eyes, outstretched his arms and embraced his wife and daughter, giving his family a grand finale of fireworks and creating a story that he, himself, would have loved to tell around a dinner table.
He is survived by his wife, Sue Cobean Cutillo of Aptos, CA, his daughter, Cat Cutillo, his son-in-law, Ross Sheehan, granddaughter, Remy Olema Sheehan, grandson, Bo Cutillo Sheehan all of Aptos, CA, his brother and sister-in-law, Bill and Sue Cutillo of Sanbornton, NH, nephews Doug and Justin Cutillo, his cousin-who-was-like-a-sister, Jean Farquharson of Bradenton, FL, first cousins Anice O’Connor, Joseph Cutillo, Jr., and Elena DeGirolamo, many best friends with whom he spoke weekly including Jim Fagan (Christine), John Colton, and Greg Hosmer (Rosaria), godsons Matthew Perrine and Gregory Hosmer, as well as sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law on Sue’s side Nancy Hassel (Mark), Roy Cobean (Linda Rathbun), and Craig Cobean (Janice) and six more nephews and nieces.
He was predeceased by his grandparents, Maria and Adolpho Valentini and Erminia and Pellegrino Cutillo, his parents, Lola and Ralph Cutillo, his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Helen and Richard Cobean, his cousin Elaine Perrine, his uncles and aunts Henry and Ronnie Valentini, Jennie Farquharson Dimmit and William Farquharson, Clair Lemieux, Joseph and Martha Cutillo, his best friend Hank Ellis, and his dog Molly.
His wife and daughter would like to thank Martha Coria and all the other incredible Lifespan caregivers who helped Sue and Cat care for Steve at home during his final months as well as Hospice of Santa Cruz County.
Calling hours will be held on Monday, November 9, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the Carriage House at Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, NH.
A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Gilford Community Church, 19 Potter Hill Road, Gilford, NH. Rev. Michael Graham, Pastor of the church, will officiate.
Following the funeral service, there will be a burial at the Cutillo Family Cemetery at Steele Hill Resorts and a reception at Steele Hill Resorts to follow, 516 Steele Hill Road, Sanbornton, NH. All are invited to attend all events.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services / 603Cremations.com, 164 Pleasant St., Laconia, NH, 03246, is assisting the family with arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial, please visit wilkinsonbeane.com.