Cape & Islands News

Mourners bid farewell to Patrick M. Butler at funeral

Hundreds attend service at St. Peter's Church in Osterville

A photograph of the Butler family: Patrick, Jay, Sue and Peter. Patrick Butler, a prominent Cape lawyer and civic participant, died Jan. 1 in Boston.

Prominent attorney, civic activist touched many Cape lives
By James Kinsella

In a ceremony filled with affection and tinged with grief, the Cape Cod community on Tuesday bid farewell to Patrick M. Butler.

Hundreds of people crowded into the little St. Peter's Episcopal Church on Wianno Avenue in Osterville for the funeral of Mr. Butler, a civic stalwart and skilled attorney who touched a multitude of lives in his 54 years of life.

So many people came Tuesday to St. Peter's, Mr. Butler's home parish, that mourners spilled over into a hallway and at least two other rooms, where they could listen on remote speakers or watch a closed-circuit transmission of the funeral.

While Jay Butler, the elder of Mr. Butler's two sons, said in a eulogy that "this is a terrible time for all of us," he also said that he knew with absolute certainty that his father "is in heaven, in a place that is filled with eternal love."

Mr. Butler, a partner at Nutter, McClennen & Fish, managed the law firm's Hyannis office. With a practice focusing mostly on real estate and land-use cases, he was best known for his skill and experience in steering development projects through the Cape Cod Commission.

But Mr. Butler's high-profile work before the Cape regulatory agency was just one aspect of a full and enthusiastic life that embraced family, faith and community.

So many people came Tuesday to St. Peter's, Mr. Butler's home parish, that mourners spilled over into a hallway and at least two other rooms, where they could listen on remote speakers or watch a closed-circuit transmission of the funeral.

Legendary for his preparation and attention to detail, Mr. Butler - who died New Year's Day in Boston from complications following surgery - had laid out instructions for his funeral in a two-page memo.

The document also carried the caveat, "Remember, Sue's the boss," a reference to his wife, Susan Jameson, who he married in 1985.

While Jay Butler said he knew his father was a loved man, the outpouring of love by the community toward Mr. Butler had been overwhelming.

He also had known that his father was a prominent lawyer and participant in the Cape's civic and charitable world.

But when his father came home at night, Jay said, he didn't talk about what he had done.
"He was much more interested in what we were doing," Jay said.

The eulogists at Tuesday's funeral also spoke with affection about what Jay Butler called his father's ability not to take himself too seriously.

They had relished the opportunity to kid him about his distinctive eating habits, which included putting butter on potato chips.

Matt Bresette, a lawyer in Nutter's Hyannis office, remembered Mr. Butler as "an amazingly compassionate man" who took pride in giving credit to the lawyers in the office for their successes.

In working with Mr. Butler, Bresette told Mr. Butler's wife and sons, "We have been blessed. Thank you for sharing your husband and your father with us."

Thomas Hazdor, who got to get to know the Butlers when his son and Jay Butler became roommates at Duke University, said that while Mr. Butler's life was cut short unfairly, "he lived his life fully."

In his eulogy, Peter Meyer, Mr. Butler's close friend and publisher of the Cape Cod Times, spoke of how Mr. Butler always opened the door to his home with a big smile.

When Mr. Butler's friends leave this life, Meyer said, "We look forward to being greeted with that wonderful smile at the door."

In her sermon, the Rt. Reverend Dr. Laura Ahrens called attention to one of the readings selected by Mr. Butler, an excerpt from the letter of St. Paul to the Christians in Rome, which she said was unusual for a funeral service.

Patrick Butler, the Rt. Reverend Dr. Laura Ahrens
said, was about life and love: love for his family, for his community, for his God.

"Love must be sincere," St. Paul had written. "Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality...

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

She realized, she said, that the reading was "Patrick's rule of life."

And Mr. Butler, she said, was about life and love: love for his family, for his community, for his God.

Mr. Butler's life had shown, she said, "what a difference Patrick made, what a difference we can make."

Read the story about last night's wake for Patick M. Butler here.

Reverend Ahrens called on those attending the funeral in the coming days to take time to share with others their feelings and thoughts about Mr. Butler.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, Mr. Butler's younger son, Peter, tolled the bell.

The casket entered and departed the church to the music of bagpipes played by Lieut. David Cameron.

Following the funeral, a reception was held at the Hyannisport Club, where Mr. Butler was a member, following the funeral.

Flags flew at half-staff at the club, at neighboring St. Andrews By the Sea, where Mr. Butler and his family attended summer services, and at the Hyannis Port post office.

Burial will be private.

A celebration of Mr. Butler's life is planned for St. Andrews this summer.

 The casket is carried out of St. Peter's Church in Osterville following Tuesday's funeral for Patrick M. Butler, who died Jan. 1.