George B. Sutherland

George Barnard Sutherland, noted Stamford watercolor artist and painting teacher, 84, passed peacefully on March 29th, 2021 at Wilton Meadows NH. He predeceased his wife, Patricia Racaniello Sutherland who passed March 29, 2020; daughter Lynn M Sutherland who passed December 29, 2017, and his parents Charles Lindsey Sutherland of New York City, and Harriet Bellinger of Charleston, South Carolina. Now they are all in heaven and at peace. George leaves behind his daughter, Cindy M. Sutherland of Rochester, VT; siblings Julie Rikert of Darien, and Joe and Jane Sutherland of Sparten, NJ; a close extended family, and lifelong friends. Monday, June14, 11AM at St Maurice Catholic Church in Stamford there will be a joint funeral mass for George and Patty, follow by a burial ceremony for George. Lacerenza FH is handling the arrangements. The burial will be live-streamed online at https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/1906979720 George and Patty met square dancing at the Newman club. Their beginnings was almost story-book, getting married, buying a home and being adopting into an Italian family. They loved raising children. George taught his children how to paint in oil then they were 8. He ran track everyday and the girls started running with him in Grade school. He was their coach and cheerleader at their sporting events. During midlife they traveled a great deal as my father continued to sell paintings and teach watercolor painting at his studio and on location throughout New England, Europe and the Carribean. Patricia was George's rock, he loved her from the moment he met her until the day she died. Mom who disliked travel was my dad’s dutiful VP and homemaker along their life journey. My father’s motto was find what you love to do and you will never have to work again. George loved painting in Nature, he loved his family, and was surrounded by his extended family and life-long friends and art colleagues who came to visit during his long declining years in assisted living. George and Patty danced, bowled, skiied, play cards, and were loyal fans of the New York Yankees. They were lifelong residents of Stamford and close to their faith and churches St Cecelia and St Maurice. Many may not have known that George was hit by a moving truck when he was four years old, which landed him in the hospital in coma. Although he physically recovered, he had permanent brain injuries and impaired vision which we now known as TBI or Traumatic Brain Injury. However, my father was able to envision and creatively navigate a full-life for himself. Painting, running and God were steadfast in his life. With supportive parents, and the marriage to my mom and his beloved in-laws, Anthony and Mary Racaniello, sister and brother in-law Jay and Marie Valenzano. He remained close to his siblings, Julie and John Rikert; and Joe and Jane Sutherland and their families. After graduating Stamford High School, George attended Parsons School of Design, and then the Art Students League in New York City. He proudly served the National Guard and then drafted into the army, stations at Fort Brags, North Carolina. He also was a long-distance runner in high school and in his college years ran with the New York runners club. George began his career as professional illustrator, and graphic designer for McCann Erickson Advertising Agency (McCann WorldGroup), Hilti Corp, other Connecticut design firms while raising his kids. At 35, George after the death of his parents, he decided to transition to fine art and teaching and selling watercolor painting. In the art world George had many art friends and students who he stayed close with throughout his life as well. With art colleague Faber Birren, colorist and professor of Art at Yale, together with others created the Stamford Art Association, founded in the 1971. George sold his art in galleries, and local art shows such as the Oyster festival, Greenwich Sidewalk Art Sale, Strawberry festival, Mystic Art Show, and other shows throughout New England. His art talents transended his grandaunt of Julia Elizabeth Barnard, a noted American Impressionist, professor of art at Cooper Union. George’s longtime friends/art colleagues were Anthony Pellicci, Evo Conti, Randy Gross, Roger Prue, George Papodapholis Anthony Depreta, Freda Dreany, Linda Wacholtz, Carol Zahn and many more. George out-lived most of his friends and the last 14 years he has needed home-care assistance and moved to the Greens of Cannondale and then Wilton Meadows. His daughter, Cindy often asked how he slept and how were his dreams? Although stationary for over a decade, he had elaborate travels through his dreams with his paintings friends. I know George is in heaven painting and dancing with Patty as we speak. The last ten years of George and Patty lives they were side by side together. Their love for each grew stronger in the end. They cared for each other right up until the end they were holding hands. The final passing of George and Patty marked an end of an era, the end of life in the pre-covid world. The family is grateful for Lacerenza FH for hosting all the family burials, and for Father Jim Abates and St Maurice Catholic Church for preforming a joint Funeral Mass and burials. George and Patty were devoted Catholics. Patty and her sister Marie received her first holy communion and married and now buried/funeral with St Maurice. The Sutherland families church was St Cecelia’s of Stamford, which they became apart of when they moved to Springdale and started a family. In later years they returned to St Maurice’s and were a member of both churches. George after being hit by a bus in his forties, he was no longer able to run, and he instead went to morning mass instead calling it his daily mediation. Throughout the trials of his life, he always found strength through God. He felt blessed by his richness of friends and family. George had a stroke, then a heart attack, and another stroke in 2005-6-7. This drastically changed my father mentally and physically, but if you knew him 20 years ago, he was a man who had endless curiosity for life, and a passion to paint Nature. George found peace in painting. He taught art as stress management, and this is reflected in his peaceful landscapes. There will be a memorial for George Barnard Sutherland, the Artist, later this year. To stay connected and for condolences you can contact Cindy Sutherland on facebook, innerharmony2@icloud.com, or by mail, PO Box 83, Rochester, VT 05767. Much Gratitude to The Greens of Cannondale and Wilton Meadows in Wilton, CT for the kind and thoughtful care they of George and Patty. Through the pandemic they made sure the family stayed connected through FaceTime and phone calls, private visit when possible. Also, Jerry Macari, LacerenzaFH for the care of the entire Sutherland family during this difficult time, and Compassive Hospice services and support during Covid; River House Senior Daycare, Greenwich, CT and JCC of Stamford for the recreation, eldercare and caregiver education. Lastly much gratitude to Father Jim Bates of St Maurices Church, Richard Fisher, Richard Dipreta, Katherine Caulfield, Eva Chen, Paula Murphy, Susan Smart, Julie Rikert, Marie Johnson, Carlo Codato, Judy Del Vecchio, Greta Irwin, and all the compassionate home help, eldercare workers throughout the years. It takes a village to care for the elderly. God Bless.