Mr. Douglas D. "Doug" Cuda

Mr. Douglas D. “Doug” Cuda, age 59, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, October 16, 2013 at the St. Elizabeth Medical Center with the love and support of his family by his side. Born in Utica on February 16, 1954, Douglas was the son of the late Joseph V. and Dolores C. (Pellettieri) Cuda. He attended St. Agnes Grammar School and graduated from Notre Dame High School in 1972. On October 18, 1980 he married the former Pam Burhyte; the couple was just shy of their 33rd wedding anniversary. The traits of their marriage were that of honesty and a fun loving union between two good people. Doug worked for the New York State Department of Transportation for over 35 years, retiring in 2009. A witty, fun-loving, charming guy, Doug was always the joker on-call, no matter what time of day or night. He was also the organizer, phone-caller, and a great friend. He was the glue that held together many events and endeavors. A caring husband, father, grandfather, and son, Doug diligently called his family and friends to check on them or share a story. He was a good dad who taught his children to do the right thing and instilled in them basic old-school traditions. His grandchild became a focal part of his life and he lovingly catered to him. Doug treasured traditions, so Sundays were reserved for family dinner, and Christmas Eve festivities were a must. He wanted these time-honored customs of sharing good food and laughter to continue in future generations. Doug had a cast of characters as his friends from every decade of his life. He enjoyed playing cards at the Eagles Club, and sometimes secured the pot at his Monday night Poker Club. If you were his friend, you understood that Doug had his own special language which included being “cudesized” or “cudaed”, those remarks were always implied with great jest. A lucky man, Doug saw the fairways as an avid golfer frequenting Cedar Lake and in more recent years Shenandoah Country Club. The camp at the St. Lawrence River was a meeting place for family and a perfect arena to display summertime fireworks. All in all it would be hard to think that we would see the likes of another Doug in our lives. Doug is survived by his wife, Pam; his son and daughter-in-law, Joseph S. and Molly (Michaels) Cuda of Liverpool; his daughter and son-in-law, Adriana and Brett Harris of Albany; and his grandson, Jackson Stephen and the anticipation of his 2nd grandson, whose name has been chosen as Joseph Douglas. Also left to remember his legacy include his brother and sister-in-law, Clifford and Elise Cuda; his sister and brother-in-law, Kathy and Will Heater of Syracuse; his aunts, Theresa Cuda, Mary Jane Sirianni, and Evelyn Dunning; his nieces Danielle, Rebecca, Emily, Samantha, and Elizabeth, for whom he held a special place in his heart, a great-niece, many treasured cousins, in-laws, and an array of ‘best friends’. He was predeceased by his in-laws, Spencer and Pearl (White) Burhyte. The family offers thanks to Dr. Kareem Hamad, Hospitalist at the St. Elizabeth Medical Center, who took the time to understand the needs of Pam and her family; they felt blessed to have had his guidance and compassion; the nurses and staff of the Intensive Care Unit and the Emergency Department, amazing professionals who were outstanding and comforting. Visitation will be held Sunday from 2:00-5:00 at the Eannace Funeral Home, Inc., 932 South St., corner of Hammond Ave. Memorial contributions in Doug’s honor may be considered to the Hope House, or a charity of choice; envelopes will be available at the funeral home. Doug’s funeral service and Celebration of Life will commence on Monday morning at 10:00 from the funeral home and at 11:00 at the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes where his Mass of Christian Burial will be offered by Rev. Joseph Salerno. Committal prayers will be offered at the Calvary Cemetery Chapel with entombment in Calvary Mausoleum.

Mr. Douglas D. "Doug" Cuda

February 16, 1954 - October 16, 2013