His efforts for water sports training, development of facilities for competition and philanthropic support of athletes earned him national recognition.
In 1999, the Peter J. Cutino Award was established in his honor by the San Francisco Olympic Club, and is presented annually to the top American male and female collegiate water polo players.
Cutino attended college at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and received a master's degree in education in 1959.
In 1974 Hall of Fame coach Nort Thornton took over the swim program, leading Cal swimmers to two national championships.
Cutino directed Golden Bear water polo teams to eight national championships and a 519-172-10 career record during his 25-year tenure.
"He taught us that anything worth accomplishing would not come without discomfort," recalls Kirk Everist, who played for Cutino at Cal and is now the head coach there.
In 1989 when he stepped down as UC Berkeley's head water polo coach, he returned to run the Monterey Sports Club, promoting athletics in the local community.
When Pete Cutino died in 2004 at age 71, some 1200 of his former players —along with friends, family, local and national sports and community leaders — attended his memorial service.
His son, Peter J. Cutino Jr. was a two-time All-American at UC Berkeley, and helped lead the Bears to the NCAA National Championship.