Gary Curto

Memorial services for Mr. Gary Curto, 71 of Cookeville will be held Saturday August 2, at 1 p.m. at Cookeville First Baptist Church with Rev. Mike Head officiating. His family will receive friends Friday from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the Cookeville Chapel of Hooper-Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home and Saturday from 12 noon until service time at the church. Gary, a beloved community leader, passed into the arms of Jesus on July 27, 2014 at his home surrounded by his family. His death was due to complications of cancer. Gary Joseph Curto was born in Port Angeles, Washington, on December 8, 1942 to Rose Casilio and Elmo Mario Curto. He was very proud of his 100% Italian heritage. He lived in Port Angeles until his departure for George Williams College in Chicago, Illinois. He met his wife, Kay, when they were both in school in Chicago, and they were married January 17, 1963. After Kay graduated as an RN, they moved to southern Illinois, and Gary graduated from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois, with a Bachelor's degree in Outdoor Education and a minor in Psychology. Gary's dream was to work for the YMCA, and he did so for 27 years in youth development, community building, development, fundraising, and as Executive Director of numerous YMCAs, the majority of which were in California, with a four-year stint in Milwaukee, WI. He then began raising money for hospitals, which led him to Cookeville in 2006, where he founded the Cookeville Regional Medical Center Foundation, and after retirement, established GJC Consulting in 2012. As you walk through various locations at CRMC, you are reminded of many of the things he accomplished: the beautiful Brad Sells sculpture in the lobby, the Donor Board, the grand piano, the model of the facility, the Recognition Board, local artists' paintings in the pediatric rooms, the Physicians' Wall, the brick path, the Chapel prayer bench, etc. etc. He also accomplished the million dollar gift from Lazarus House Hospice to the CRMC Foundation. Gary leveraged his enthusiasm for service and the joy he found in generosity to inspire others to give generously, raising over 45 million dollars throughout his career. Gary enjoyed gospel music, good food, and sports. He played golf, and was an avid runner for 30 years, running 1500 miles each year. He completed several marathons, many 5 and 10K Runs, and one triathlon. He enjoyed backpacking for many years, even climbing California's Mt. Whitney, which has the highest elevation in the contiguous United States. He loved all sports--there were very few sport stats he did not know!! Gary never met a stranger. He was a member of Rotary for over 48 years, a Paul Harris Fellow, Deacon at Hollywood Presbyterian Church in California, and a Certified Fund Raising Executive. He assisted with starting Heart of the Cumberland, where he served as a board member until his death, and started the Dailey and Vincent concerts in Gainesboro to help underprivileged children. He was presently a member of First Baptist Church in Cookeville and had so much support in his last years from the Seekers Sunday School Class led by Jim Mitchell. He was preceded in death by both of his parents and his infant daughter, Catherine Jane Curto. Gary is survived by his wife of 51 years, Kay Dixon Curto; daughter Christy and son-in-law Chris Korrow of Whitby Island, WA; grand-daughters Kaysha and Gabrielle Korrow; two sons Jonathon Curto of Nashville and Bryan Curto of Los Angeles CA; brothers Louie (Sherry) Curto of Houston, TX, and Dan (Karen) Curto of Port Angeles, WA; numerous nieces and nephews, and great-nieces and nephews. We will all miss his great personality, his willingness to give, and his life of service. Memorial contributions may be made to: CRMC Foundation 1 Medical Center Blvd or to Heart of the Cumberland, PO Box 2474, both in Cookeville, TN 38501.