Giving Up Harvard Squash for the Birds

After an 18-year career as Harvard's assistant director of athletics, Eric Cutler '40 has decided to hang up his coat and tie.

"My birthday has been coming up for 64 years," he says, chuckling.

Cutler plans to become a full-time squash coach at his prep school alma mater, Noble & Greenough, where he started coaching on a part-time basis this winter.

Cutler is excited about his prospective proteges and quipped that he will "send them all to Princeton" to provide Harvard with some competition.

Although he will continue his squash career, Cutler also plans to do some travelling with his wife next year. An avid bird watcher, past director of the Audobon Society and accomplished photographer, he hopes to combine the two interests during his travels and possibly produce a book. Watching birds is nothing new for Cutler. The former director of the Audobon Society spent 25 years catching birds for the government.

"I'd like to visit the Venezuelan rain forests but she wouldn't go for that, there's nothing but birds there," Cutler said laughingly of his wife, who does not share his interest in bird watching.

Freshman Flock

While Cutler pursues his feathered friends, the freshman squash team he has coached for four years will be eliminated to make way for a larger JV squad.

"There's always been a [men's freshman squash team at Harvard" and this is a new step for the program, Cutler said. He added that although it will be disappointing for beginning players who are making the transfer from tennis, for example, the change will be an improvement in the long run.

The absorption of freshman by the JV will allow every player to practice at Hemenway Gym." Although their [Linden St.] courts are perfectly adequate for recreational use they are not for serious players," Cutler explained.

Varsity Coach Dave Fish and Coach Bill Austin have tentative plans to handle all the squads by adding an early morning practice, Cutler said. This will also provide them with a better group for reserve players for matches.

Quick Learner

Cutler's squash career, surprisingly enough, began when he was already 35. To prevent himself "from getting fat," he persuaded a former classmate to teach him the game. At the time, squash was just one more sport added to the long list Cutler had participated in since at Noble and Greenough he ran track and played baseball, ice hockey and football! Later, he was one of the Crimson's top swimmers, overcoming polio to gain All American status and captain the team in his senior year.

Aside from his administrative position, Cutler coached the women's varsity team for two years, improving the squad from 12th to fourth in the nation.

Although he is leaving Harvard athletics, Cutler welcomes the quiet and what he calls "very interesting" work of bird watching. He added that since he probably couldn't convince his wife to go to Venezuela, he will settle for catching birds for the federal government.