Obituary of John R. Butler

John Richard Butler, born in 1935 in Stillwater, NY, died Tuesday, November 26, 2024 after a brief illness. 

John formerly resided in Syracuse, NY, Macungie, PA and, since 1980, in Stamford, NY. In his home known to family as “The Hotel” he and his peerless friend, partner and wife of 56 years, Mary Jane, raised 4 children and welcomed 8 grandchildren and 1 great grandson. 

John’s values and expectations for himself and others were known to all; apply yourself to the task at hand, use the right tool for the job and do right by others. In all his endeavors he prioritized duty: to family, to community, and to country. 

John was a steady nurturing presence, a natural leader and a constant teacher. To his large extended family he was beloved for readily reaching out to lend a hand or offer support. In his community he was a reliable volunteer with the Boy Scouts, with CORE Values thrift store, for his Sacred Heart Catholic Church parish and with his Rotary Club.

John was a highly involved member of Rotary International for 50 years both in Kutztown, PA and Stamford. John was awarded a Paul Harris Fellow. He engaged with every event Rotary held but his favorites were the International Student Exchange Program, the Youth Leadership program, Brook’s Chicken barbecues and his passion was for the Car Show held at the Rexmere Hotel. He rarely showed his own 1955 Ford Thunderbird but he’d roll up driving it in a real car buff flex. While living in Pennsylvania he was a founding member of the Lehigh Valley Thunderbird Club.

John served honorably in the US Army in 1957. He was stationed overseas, in Hawaii, which was not yet a state. 40 years later he returned to that post to visit his daughter who was herself stationed there as a nurse with the US Army. John was a coordinator for Treats for Troops sending care packages to deployed soldiers during the Gulf Wars. 

John’s working days stretched from the time he was an entrepreneurial boy selling dandelions to an octogenarian overseeing million dollar properties. Along the way John was a farmer, a factory worker, a Teamster, a teacher, a cattleman, a principal and a home inspector. John was very proud of his Irish immigrant forebears and he valued hard work and perseverance. John’s mother showed her children that education was a path out of rural poverty and they followed it. John took degrees from Hudson Valley Community College, the State University of New York at Oswego and Syracuse University. He tirelessly inspired and counseled others to do the same.

His career as an educator and administrator led him to the Northern Catskills Occupational Center, a vocational school in Grand Gorge run by New York’s Board of Cooperative Educational Services. As Director for 15 years he promoted this public school system of education and training that regional nurses, cooks, mechanics and tradespeople use to make their livings. He loved finding his students out in the community in their chosen fields and proudly employed their services.

John was a great student of American history. He and Mary Jane enjoyed family trips to historic sites across America whether they be battle sites, Presidential homes or National Parks. He was moved by visits to World War II sites during European tours and cruises. He had a beautiful experience traveling to Honduras on a mission trip with Peg Vamosy. He read biographies of the great men of history and gamely listened while his wife, daughters and granddaughters filled him in on the great women. He and his son spent many enjoyable hours talking about the New England Patriots, the Syracuse Orange, the Boston Red Sox, Steph Curry, Patrick Mahomes and the role that Schoharie’s own Timothy Murphy played at the Battle of Saratoga.

Our Papa was a witty, clever family man who loved us deeply. He challenged us, he taught us valuable lessons, he made us laugh until we cried. We endeavor to incorporate his best practices and his idiosyncratic jargon into our own families and take care of people the way he did. 

John is predeceased by his parents William and Margaret Butler, brother James Butler, sister Mary Keohane, first wife Anne Farnan Butler, infant daughter Mary and eldest daughter Karen Butler Schultz. He is survived by his wife Mary Jane Whelan Butler, daughter Beth Salvato (David), son Richard Butler (Stephanie) daughter Susan Doyle (Brian), son in law Vincent Schultz, grandchildren Alexander Kaiser (Chase) Erin Rose O’Bleness (Dalton), Jason Schultz, Luke Schultz, Marie Butler, Kate Butler, Aria Salvato, Maysie Doyle, great grandson Theodore Kaiser, sisters Theresa Dooher (Jim), and Dorothy Butler, sister in law Alice Whelan, brother in law Tom Farnan, sisters in law Joan Campbell and Carol Reynolds (Leo), and his many nieces and nephews. 

Calling hours will be from 3PM-6PM  on Wednesday, December 4, 2024 at the MacArthur Funeral Home, 15 Buntline Drive, Stamford, NY.  A funeral Mass will celebrated at 11AM on Thursday, December 5, 2024 at Sacred Heart Church, 27 Harper Street Stamford. Burial with military honors will be at 1PM on Friday, at Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery in Schuylerville, NY.

 If anyone wishes, a donation in John’s name may be made to the USO or Habitat for Humanity.

Please visit www.macarthurfh.com to share a condolence with John’s family.