Ridgefield resident Chris Cute, 61, master woodworker, husband, father, has died

Christopher John Cute, known to family and friends as Chris, passed away peacefully on March 23rd at the age of 61. Born in Providence, RI and raised in Fort Myers, FL, Chris spent the past 19 years as a resident of Ridgefield, CT.

A loving husband, father, son, brother, uncle, and dear friend, Chris is remembered for his infectious laugh and Irish wit. Among friends, he was magnetic and always the center of attention. He had a knack for putting people at ease and leaving you with a smile.

Chris’ generous personality shone when he used his woodworking skills to create toys for Toys for Tots. He also donated his cherished hair to Locks of Love.

Chris attended Fort Myers Senior High School and Edison College where he joined the theater program, which sparked his love for music and a career in radio.

After graduating, he moved to California, where he met the love of his life, Maria Raffetto. They married in Santa Maria, CA, before moving to Florida where he became the voice of Fort Myers on WINK-FM and then B103.9. As both the program director and on-air personality, both these stations rose to No. 1 in Southwest Florida under his leadership.

Chris was a dedicated father, treasuring his son, Logan, who he taught to be honest and caring. Logan had no choice but to be a Red Sox fan, attending games and always discussing player stats. They also shared a love for music and spent many hours listening to their favorite songs.

Chris’ passion for woodworking led to many creative projects, including co-hosting several instructional and humorous podcasts, which showcased both his creative and broadcasting talents. He also hosted a YouTube channel with a series of how-to videos that drew more than 15,000 subscribers. Woodworking was both a creative and social outlet for Chris, where he made many lifelong friends in the Makers Community.

He is survived by his wife Maria of 37 years, his son Logan, his sister Sandy Cute-Gregory (husband Dan Gregory and her children Matthew, Melissa, and Joshua) and brothers Greg Cute (wife Sunny and his children Jen and Keith) and Dan Cute (wife Cathy and children Christina, Patrick, Kimberly, and Jonathan), and was predeceased by his parents, Jim and Bev Cute.

A ceremony for relatives and friends will be held in Fort Myers at a future date.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, http://www.wounderwarriorproject.org or to a Go Fund Me that has been established to benefit the Cute Family, https://gofund.me/2ef7c79a.