John Gutter, former Asst. Principal for Student Life at Bishop O'Connell, is being posthumously honored next month at the University of Rhode Island, where he is being inducted into their Army ROTC Hall of Fame.
O'Connell alumni from the past three decades will remember Gutter in his role as Assistant Principal of Student Life. But few know of his previous life as a scholarship football player at URI, followed by a 20 year career as a U.S. Marine Corps officer, serving two tours in Vietnam. He was wounded in combat in 1965 while coming to the aid of a fellow Marine and spent seven months recovering. He retired as a lieutenant colonel and in 1984 he joined the faculty at Bishop O'Connell, where he was involved in student development, facilities management and coaching. Gutter retired from O'Connell in 2011 and passed away in 2012.
"John loved Bishop O'Connell High School and he made important contributions to the personal development of thousands of students during his tenure. He also lent his project management experience to a number of major building projects," said Head of School, Dr. Joseph Vorbach.
Read more about the Nov. 11, 2017 URI Army Hall of Fame induction ceremony...