Visitation will begin Monday morning at 10:00 a.m. at Craig Funeral Home; funeral services officiated by the Rev. David Shokes will be held at the funeral home Tuesday morning at 11:00 a.m.
Guttinger was born November 12, 1936, in Islip, NY, and resided on Heron’s Nest Lane in St. Augustine for the past 10 years.
He is survived by his wife, Hellen I. Guttinger of St. Augustine as well as two sons; Walter L. Guttinger (wife Victoria), also of St. Augustine, and, Greg G. Guttinger (wife Robin M.) of Cumming, GA; grandsons, Ian and Weston Guttinger.
Don Guttinger served as Vice President of the Friends of the Anastasia Island Branch Library and was a staunch supporter. The Guttinger family has asked that donations may be made in his memory to Friends of the Anastasia Island Branch Library, 124 Seagrove Main St., St Augustine Beach, FL 32080.
In a letter from the Friends, they wrote; “We are all mourning his passing with disbelief. Don was an ardent worker who devoted much of his personal time to our little island library and to the Friends’ group.”
Life is a precious thing to cherish and it is even more apparent when we lose something of value.
Don’s specialty was the management of the book sales and raising the majority of the Friends’ funding for the library.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife and family.
We truly appreciate the fact that his family shared him to be part of our library family.
Family meant so much to Don; as a member of the library family and the community-at-large, his loss will be greatly felt by all.
Thank you, Hellen (his wife), for sharing him; we truly appreciate it!
Board members, staff, and membership have shared their thoughts on Don:
You can remember him carrying banana boxes loaded with books—to a truck, from a truck, to the Friends’ room, down the hall.
If someone at a book sale filled a bag too heavy to carry themselves, he’d haul it out to their car for them.
He was dedicated, hardworking, caring, giving, an advocate, community supporter, responsible, took great pride in his role as a member of the executive board and his major role in book sales.
He was a visible presence in the library. He worked long hours…both at the library and at home.
He was a towering figure who loved people, knew books and gave his all for his library family.
He wanted to make as much money for the library, and the goals that were met, were never enough….he always wanted to beat the last sales goals.
Don was one of those people that you meet and hoped to be like one day.
He loved his family and he was very proud of his kids and grandchildren. I imagine they were great because he was.
He was so fabulous….he was here the other day sorting through books and laughing.
He was an advocate for the AI Library and a supporter of the community, young people, education and literacy.
He was a friend to the library in every sense of the word. We are going to miss him!
He WAS “The Friends of the Library.”
Such was the gentleman, Don Guttinger … forever etched in our memories!
Craig Funeral Home Crematory Memorial Park is in charge of the arrangements.
Photo credits: © 2011 Historic City News contributed photograph
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