It is with profound sadness that the family of Roland Hutter announces his passing on October 8, 2022. A man for all seasons, Roland was a special gift to all who knew him and to those who regretfully will never set eyes on him. Roland was born in Austria in 1937 on a cold December 29th. His parents, Johann and Cecilia Hutter were elated to have a son! His sisters, Elfriede (Sbaschnik) and Hildegard were much older and treated him with love and care. He lived through WWII as a little child; his family survived unhurt. Roland attended elementary school in Austria, and when he was 14, his family took a freighter and sailed to America, where his father’s brother Josef and wife Betty sponsored their arrival. They lived in Greenwich, CT with Onkle Joe and Tante Betty until he graduated Greenwich High School in 1955. After graduation, Roland went off to Yellow Springs, Ohio to attend Antioch College, graduating with a degree in Civil Engineering in 1959. He was a “Sick Benefit” Member of the Austrian Donau Club of New Britain. Roland worked in many places, making lifelong friendships with co-workers. In 1969, he packed his bags and moved to New Britain to begin a career with New Britain Redevelopment, which lasted until 1971 when an opportunity opened in the Hartford Department of Housing and Urban Development, where he wore many hats and endeared himself to everyone. In 1970, he married the young lady he had watched grow into a woman. Concetta “Connie” Santoro was 13 when she and her mom went to play tennis where Roland and a friend were playing. He was already showing signs of becoming a fantastic tennis player! Through the years, Roland kept an eye on Connie and on June 6, 1970 they embarked on a life of love and happiness. 52 years later, they clung to their relationship of love one day at a time and thanked God for the days they shared. Fourteen years later, they began their life as parents when their daughter, Michelle was born; two and a half years later they were blessed with a son, Robert. Roland embraced parenthood with open arms and endeared himself and unconditionally brought up his children with a stern hand and a loving heart. Travelling Europe and the United States as a family, they cherished the moments they spent together. Roland and Connie embraced the gifts Michelle gave them with her children Brooklyn and MacKenzie Boyd, who lovingly called their grandfather Opa, not knowing him as anything else. His grandchildren were the lights of his life and he cherished every moment he spent with them. Roland wore many hats: he was a loving husband to Connie, a beloved father to Michelle (Hutter) Boyd and her husband Brian, a hero to his son Robert and Opa to his endearing grandchildren. He also leaves a nephew, Werner Sbaschnik of Glendale, NY. As we sadly close the chapter of our lives as a family of four, each of us will cherish the memories we made and walk through life minus our fearless leader. Roland was truly a man with a loving heart that he managed to share with everyone. We thank God for the amazing years we had of life and love and pray he finds comfort in the arms of angels.
