Florence B. "Floss" Rutter

FLORENCE B. RUTTER

(nee Brewster), age 97

Loving daughter of the late Florence Snider Brewster and Alfred Alexander Brewster; she was a direct descendant of Elder William Brewster, who arrived on the Mayflower in 1620, and was the leader of the Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts.

Floss, (or Flossie), attended Laurel School in Shaker Heights (’39), followed by two years of fashion design at The Stuart School in Boston. A supporter of many arts organizations, she volunteered at University Hospitals, Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, and The Cleveland Museum of Art.

She and her family had close ties to The Cleveland Orchestra and kept the same seats at Severance Hall for the last 88 years.

Floss excelled at tennis and golf at The Kirtland Country Club, winning many trophies, and was a member of The Chagrin Valley Hunt Club. Known for her dogs, (mostly poodles), her love of Blue Hill, Maine, her artistic talent and her wry humor, Floss valued her friendships above all.

Survivors include her dear friends Christeen Tuttle, Ellie Floyd Mayfield, Maureen and Rick Floyd, Cindy Floyd, Tisha and Bill Charman, Bina Charman, Dennis, Beverley and Clara Coughlin, the Connie and Bill Strong family, and Towar Vilas.

Special thanks to her friends Linda Haendiges, Debbie Cirillo, Sue Skunta, Diane Witherspoon, Sandy Cook, and Olga Olshanskyj.

Contributions in her memory can be made to Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, 2101 Adelbert Rd., Cleveland, OH 44106; B&C, Laurel School, 1 Lyman Circle, Shaker Hts., OH 44122 or the Cleveland Orchestra, 11001 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44106.

A Memorial Reception will be held in The Chatauqua Room at South Franklin Circle, 16575 S. Franklin St., Chagrin Falls, Ohio 44023  from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Friday, July 12, 2019.