Cape & Islands News

Hundreds attend wake for Cape attorney Patrick Butler

Known for land-use legal work, civic involvement on Cape Cod

A long line of people waiting to pay their respects to the late Patrick Butler stretched out the door of the John-Lawrence Funeral Home in Marstons Mills about 4 p.m. Monday afternoon.

Hundreds of people gathered Monday afternoon and evening to pay their respects to Patrick M. Butler, 54, a prominent Cape Cod land use attorney deeply involved in the civic life of the Cape, who died Thursday night, Jan. 1.

Calling hours were scheduled from 3 to 7 p.m. Monday at the John-Lawrence Funeral Home on Route 28 in Marstons Mills. The funeral is set for 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 6, at St. Peter's Episcopal Church at 421 Wianno Ave., Osterville. Burial will be private.

Mr. Butler's obituary can be read here.

Known for steering many development projects through the Cape Cod Commission process, Mr. Butler also was well-liked as a genial man deeply involved in Cape Cod's civic life.

Cape Cod Healthcare announced Mr. Butler's death early Friday afternoon. Mr. Butler, a Centerville resident who had been chairman of the Cape Cod Healthcare Foundation Board of Trustees, was serving as  chairman of the foundation’s capital campaign at the time of his death.

Survivors include his wife, Sue, and two sons, Jay and Peter.

The funeral home began the calling hours an hour earlier than originally planned. It was a wise move, as the funeral home's parking lot was quickly filled by mourners before 3 p.m. People parked in nearby shopping center lots and walked down Route 28 to the funeral home, where they stood outside as the line slowly made its way into the funeral home.

Coming at age 54, the death of Mr. Butler -- skilled attorney, devoted husband and father, and tireless volunteer in the Cape's civic life -- was a difficult blow to many, from the people who knew him from his youth in Hyannis Port to the lawyers who respected his work to the people who benefitted from his tireless volunteer efforts.

In a release Friday, Cape Cod Healthcare stated: "The Cape Cod Healthcare family is stunned and deeply saddened by the passing last night of Patrick Butler. Pat was a longtime stalwart in the health care community on Cape Cod, whose leadership led to many important advances in health care on the Cape."

Mr. Butler, a Centerville resident who worked at Nutter, McClennen & Fish LLP, was manager of Nutter's Hyannis office, a partner in the firm's real estate and finance department, and a member of the firm's land use group.

Known for steering many development projects through the Cape Cod Commission process, Mr. Butler concentrated his practice in land use and commercial real estate transactions. As Cape Cod Healthcare’s attorney for many capital projects, Pat led the regulatory efforts that enabled the construction of the Mugar Building at Cape Cod Hospital and the Medical Office Building at Falmouth Hospital, among other developments.

The Cape Cod Economic Development Council honored him with the Award for Leadership in 1995.  The Hyannis Chamber of Commerce named him “Citizen of the Year” in 1997.

Mr. Butler was a member of the Barnstable County Bar Association and a conciliator for the association. He also was a member of the Boston Bar Association. He began his legal career as an assistant district attorney for Cape Cod and the islands.

According to the law firm's Web site, Mr. Butler was frequently quoted as an expert to industry and local media on land use and regulatory issues.  He wrote “The Cape Cod Commission - Five Years Later,” a piece published by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly.  He also lectured at Cape Cod Community College and to the Barnstable County Police Academy.

In addition to his legal work, Mr. Butler was involved in many civic and community organizations. Pat was a member of the Business Roundtable of the Association to Preserve Cape Cod, and had served as an officer and director of the Barnstable Youth Hockey Association, and the Barnstable Horace Mann Charter School.

A former summer resident of Hyannis Port, Mr. Butler moved to the Cape full-time following his graduation from law school.

In addition to his legal work, Mr. Butler also was involved in many civic and community organizations. Pat was a member of the Business Roundtable of the Association to Preserve Cape Cod, and has served as an officer and director of the Barnstable Youth Hockey Association, and the Barnstable Horace Mann Charter School. He served as a clerk of the Cape and Islands United Way.

As chairman of Cape Cod Healthcare Foundation's capital campaign, Mr. Butler had been leading the fundraising drive to construct an Upper Cape Oncology Center on the campus of Falmouth Hospital and to build an ambulatory complex off Attucks Lane in Hyannis, among other projects.

At a campaign event in September to announce several major gifts, Mr. Butler’s commitment to a strong health care system on Cape Cod was evident.

“It is imperative that we undertake a campaign to assure that services, facilities and staff are always there to meet the challenges and growing demands for quality health services on Cape Cod,” Mr. Butler  said. “We are deeply indebted to the donors whose support enables us to continue the mission that helped build a comprehensive regional healthcare system spanning the entire Cape.”

“I didn’t know Pat for a long-time, "but I do know he was a tremendous individual and a dear friend to many people on Cape Cod," said Dr. Richard Salluzzo, president and chief executive officer at Cape Cod Healthcare. "He made a big difference in the lives of many people and he will be greatly missed.”

"Cape Cod has lost a true health care champion with the passing of Patrick Butler," Cape Cod Healthcare said in its statement.

Barnstable police were on hand to help guide traffic past the overflow of people who came Monday to Patrick Butler's wake.