John J. Clutz Jr., 81, singing executive

John J. Clutz Jr., 81, of Radnor, a former chemical company executive who loved to sing, died Monday, April 22, of complications from a stroke at the Quadrangle in Haverford.

Mr. Clutz had a deep, rich bass voice and didn't hesitate to use it, his family said. He sang with the Savoy Opera Company, which stages Gilbert and Sullivan musicals, and was an active member of Counterparts, an a cappella jazz group.

He also sang with an amateur musical group called the Philadelphia Revels, as well as Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church's senior choir and the Wayne Oratorio Society.

Born in Gettysburg to John J. Clutz and Agnes Gudrun Hammer, Mr. Clutz grew up in St. Davids and was a 1948 graduate of Radnor High School.

In 1952, he earned an engineering degree from Princeton University and was granted membership in Phi Beta Kappa. He sang with Princeton's Glee Club, an octet, and the Princeton Chapel Choir.

After college, he spent three years in the Navy, finishing in June 1955 on the submarine Bluegill as a lieutenant junior grade. He married Patricia Sweet in December 1953. After his service, they lived in Baltimore and Cincinnati, where he worked for Procter & Gamble.

The two returned to the Philadelphia area in 1958 when he became an executive of Rohm & Haas Co. He was president of Rohm & Haas Canada and then business director of the chemical company's Latin American division.

The family lived in Toronto for six years and in Coral Gables, Fla., for three before moving to Radnor in 1978.

Mr. Clutz then got busy singing, sailing, volunteering at the Philadelphia Zoo, and helping with alumni activities at Princeton.

He was class treasurer for 15 years and vice president for five. In June 2012, he was elected class president at the 60th reunion, making him the longest-serving officer of the Class of 1952.

He loved dogs, and was treasurer of the Harford Dog Park Club in Radnor. Over the years, he owned a black lab, terriers, and a Lhasa apso named Dragon.

"He always had biscuits in his pocket for his dog friends," said his sister-in-law, Robin Clutz. "He'd buy them by the bushel."

Survivors are a brother; a sister; and nieces and nephews. His wife died earlier. Dragon went to a new home when his master could no longer walk him.

A memorial service will be at 4 p.m. Thursday, June 20, in the chapel of Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church, 625 Montgomery Ave. Interment is private.

Donations may be sent to Main Line Animal Rescue, Box 89, Chester Springs, Pa. 19425, or the Pennsylvania SPCA, 350 E. Erie Ave., Philadelphia 19134.

Condolences to the family may be offered at www.chadwick-mckinney.com.