Bertha Cutcher, pioneered disabilities programs

Bertha Cutcher, who pioneered services and programs to make UB more accessible for individuals with disabilities, died Dec. 23 in Kaleida Health-Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital following a brief illness.

She was 82.

Cutcher joined the UB staff in 1966 as associate director of the Office of Student Affairs and Services, and became associate director of the Office of Placement and Career Guidance in 1973. She was instrumental in obtaining a $500,000 federal grant in 1976 to formally establish an Office of Services for the Handicapped (OSH) at UB, serving as coordinator of the office until her retirement in 1982.

One of only 11 institutions of higher education to be funded under this pilot project, UB was recognized as one of the most handicapped-accessible campuses in the United States.

While much of the initial grant funding was spent on special-education equipment and classroom aides, the university provided services and materials to modify buildings and equipment.

When the grant expired in 1980, the university assumed responsibility for the office, which now is called the Office of Disability Services.

Cutcher obtained additional grants to purchase state-of-the-art equipment to aid the visually impaired and worked with the Department of Recreation and Athletics and student organizations to provide students with disabilities the opportunity to bowl, swim and enjoy other sports.

Cutcher received numerous honors and awards for her efforts, including an Outstanding Service Award from UB, the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Professional Service and a citation from the state Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped. She was one of 10 people named a "Citizen of the Year" by The Buffalo News in 1982.

After her retirement, she volunteered and consulted with agencies and organizations concerned with individuals with disabilities. She was a president of the local chapter of the American Association of University Women and participated in the group's various projects, in particular the annual book sale.

John Zahorjan, engineer, helped to develop TCIE

John Zahorjan, 74, adjunct professor of industrial engineering who helped develop programs linking UB to local industry, died Dec. 12 in Mercy Hospital after a battle with cancer.

A former vice president of operations at Fisher Price, Zahorjan joined the UB faculty in 1983 after retiring from the East Aurora-based toy company, where he had worked for nearly two decades.

He directed the undergraduate internship program in the Department of Industrial Engineering, and helped to develop The Center for Industrial Effectiveness, winner of two Project of the Year awards from the National Association of Management and Technical Assistance Centers.

He also helped to create the master's program in engineering management, developing and teaching some of the courses. A dedicated educator, he continued to teach-even from a wheelchair-until shortly before his death.

Zahorjan earned a doctorate in engineering from UB in 1974 and last spring received the UB Dean's Award for Engineering Achievement, the highest honor given by the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

He was a member of numerous professional organization, including Tau Beta Phi national engineering honor society, and was included in "Who's Who in the East" and "Who's Who in Finance and Industry."

A student fund in his name has been established in the engineering school.

Leo Smit, internationally known pianist, composer

Leo Smit, internationally known pianist, composer and UB faculty member for two decades, died of congestive heart failure Dec. 12 in Scripps Hospital in Encinitas, Calif.

He was 78.

The musical luminary and former child prodigy came to UB in 1962 as Slee Music Professor, drawn to the locale because of what he described as its "increasing world reputation for musical adventure." The following year, Smit joined the music department as a full-time faculty member, staying at the university until 1983.

Throughout his career, he performed and traveled widely but always returned to Buffalo. In recent years, he wintered in California and moved there permanently this past summer.

When he first came to Buffalo, by way of Sarah Lawrence College and the University of California at Los Angeles, he rediscovered the late boogie-woogie immortal Pete Johnson.

Smit brought the aging, ailing Johnson out of obscurity with a highly successful Johnson Benefit concert.

He also was a talented photographer, presenting travelogues accompanied by appropriate music.

The son of Russian-born parents, Smit was accepted at age 9 for private study at the renowned Curtis Institute in his native Philadelphia.

Studying piano with such greats at Jose Iturbi and Isabella Vengerova, at age 15 he was touring accompanist with the American Ballet Company under George Balanchine.

Three years later, Smit's solo recital debut in Carnegie Hall drew rave reviews.

A Fulbright and Guggenheim fellow in Italy, Smit had his work performed under the direction of Leopold Stokowski, Leonard Bernstein and Serge Koussevitzky.

Smit's "First Symphony" won a New York Critics Circle Award; his "Second Symphony" was premiered by Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic.

Among his other works were "Copernicus," "Alchemy of Love" and "Capriccio for String Orchestra." Three selections of his seven-song cycle, based on the poems of Emily Dickinson, were recorded on compact disc by Bridge and featured Smit on piano with soprano Rosalind Rees.