Obituary of Allan R. Rutter

Allan Roy Rutter – City Engineer, Outdoor Enthusiast and Photographer. May 24th, 1943 – November 21st, 2008. Allan R. Rutter, the former Director of Engineering for the City of Lockport passed away at the age of 65 on November 21st, 2008 after a courageous battle against ALS, (also known as Lou Gerhig’s Disease). He was born in Lockport, the son of Lester R. and W. Ruth Wood Rutter and brother of the late Vivian Bower. Al lived and worked in the area until his retirement to Bradford, PA in 2001. His career working for the City of Lockport spanned thirty-one years where he was instrumental in the implementation of numerous public works projects that remain in the city today. During his career, he served on the Niagara Canal Development Task Force, the Government Committee for LCTV, and the American Public Works Association at regional, state and national levels including terms as regional and New York State president of the American Public Works Association. In 1998, he received the Samuel A. Greeley Local Service Award from the Western New York chapter of the APWA. A past president of the Lockport Camera Club, he was an active and award winning photographer, teacher and professional wedding photographer. He shared his love of nature and birding with his wife of forty years, Mary Ann. They spent countless days hiking, camping and cross country skiing in Allegany State Park and eventually purchased a home in the Allegany National Forest to which they retired. An avid do-it-yourselfer, Al also enjoyed woodworking, racquetball, swimming, biking, snowshoeing, sailing and canoeing. He will be greatly missed by his wife Mary Ann, (nee Hart), his son Dr. Michael (Natalie) Rutter, his daughter Joanne (Christopher) Galley, his grandchildren Isaac and Alix and several nieces, nephews and friends. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the MDA/ALS Division, 5500 Main St. #343, Buffalo, NY 14221 or The ALS Association Update New York Chapter, 323 Route 5, Elbridge, NY 13060. Friends and family are invited to a celebration of Life on Saturday, November 29th beginning at 3PM at the Lockport Canal Side, 210 Market Street, Lockport, NY. You may post a message of sympathy at www.langefuneralhomeinc.com.