CapeCodToday Obituaries

Michael McCaffrey, family man, educator, blogger, dies

Editor's note: Dr. McCaffrey wrote a blog on CapeCodToday.com for several years under the pseudonym The Opinionator where he penned over 250 columns or posts which are archived there. His contributions will be greatly missed.  Our prays are with his family.

Superintendent of Dennis Yarmouth Regional School District for 18 years

Michael Duff McCaffrey, 68, peacefully passed on to eternal life Sunday, March 22 , 2009.

Born in Lancaster, NH, he was a graduate of Lancaster High School and studied for his undergraduate degree at Saint Anselm College and the University of Ottawa. From 1963 – 1965, he served in the United States Army Infantry. He received his Masters in 1969 from the University of New Hampshire and his Doctorate in Education Administration from Boston University in 1974.

Doctor McCaffrey began his teaching career in 1965 in Groton, VT and his administrative work at Whitman Public Schools as Assistant Superintendent.

Came to Cape in 1983

He was Superintendent for Rockport, MA Public Schools from 1978 to 1983 and was named Superintendent of Dennis Yarmouth Regional School District in 1983 where he loyally served for 18 years.

Michael is survived by his beloved wife of 40 years, Donna E. (Gandin) McCaffrey, his five children and their spouses; Mary and George Lavoie of Yarmouth Port; Patrick and Kecia McCaffrey of South Dennis; Catherine and Sean Brewer of Marstons Mills; Elizabeth and Stephen Giordano of Eastchester, NY; and Melissa and Ross Brennan of Dennis; his two sisters, Susan Burrill of Wolcott, VT; Shannon Tibbitts of Wolfeboro, NH; twelve dearly loved grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

He will always be remembered for his strong Catholic faith, his devotion to education and his unbounded love for his family.

Friends and family are invited to call at the Hallett Funeral Home, 273 Station Ave., South Yarmouth on Thursday, March 26 from 2-4 & 7-9 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 27 at Saint Pius X Church, Station Ave., South Yarmouth. Burial will be in Woodside Cemetery in Yarmouth Port.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to the Education Foundation for Dennis and Yarmouth Inc., P. O. Box 522, South Yarmouth, MA 02664 or to Lahey Clinic, c/o Ann Delier, 41 Mall Rd., Burlington, MA 01805.

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Dan Walker, one of the original founders of WHAT, dead at 75

Former actor, director and teacher, founded WHAT 25 years ago

WELLFLEET -  Daniel Walker, a former actor, director and teacher who 25 years ago joined five others in creating the Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater (WHAT), died on Friday, March 6, 2009 at Cape Cod Hospital.  He was 75.

Dan, as he was known to friends and colleagues, had a lifelong connection to Cape Cod.  His parents, Adelaide and Charles R. Walker, Jr., were central figures in the Outer Cape literary and artistic community that included John Dos Passos, Edmund Wilson and Mary McCarthy and, he had been spending at least part of every year in Wellfleet since he was a boy.  He and his wife, Dina Harris, permanently located to Wellfleet in 2004.

Dan Walker. Photo by Rusty Funnell.

Dan’s theater career on Cape Cod began long before directing WHAT’s very first show, a production of Ionesco’s Rhinoceros, which opened on July, 31, 1985 on the night of a Blue Moon.  His first acting role came when he was 6 and played Jack Frost in a Christmas play at the Wellfleet Elementary School—and he was hooked.  Theater became his passion, whether on the Cape during summers or while away at boarding school.  He was directing and acting in plays, some of which he wrote himself, enlisting friends in Wellfleet and Truro to establish a theater company to perform them.  The group called themselves “The Truro Troopers.” Among them was Joan Chandler, who went on to co-star in Alfred Hitchcock’s film, Rope.

At 16, Dan worked as an intern at the Cape Playhouse in Dennis.  There he worked with luminaries such as Bea Lillie and Gertrude Lawrence, and he learned stagecraft working with Herbert Senn and Helen Ponds, the Cape Playhouse’s brilliant scene designers.

Dan earned a BFA in Drama at Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh and, after serving in the peacetime Navy in Boston, he ventured to New York to pursue his lifelong dream of a theater career.  He always returned to the Cape when he could to see plays performed and designed by former colleagues, and visit with family and friends.

He acted on Broadway with Gene Hackman, acted and sang parts in regional theater, summer stock, and children’s theater—where his signature role was The Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz.   Dan also traveled the globe for more than a year as part of the Theater Guild American Repertory Company.  That was a 26-city tour through Europe and the Middle East with stars such as Helen Hayes and June Havoc and also James Broderick, Matthew’s father, who was Dan’s constant traveling chess partner.

“I’ve had a good run,” he said to his oncologist when learning 15 months ago that he had inoperable cancer.

To say the theater coursed through his blood would be an understatement.  His mother, an actress, was nine months pregnant with Dan but still attended Tobacco Road, fearing it would close. That experience produced false labor – and also a false sense of worry as Tobacco Road went on to run longer, until then, than any play on Broadway.

All of Dan’s family is in “the business.” Dan met his wife, the designer and playwright Dina Harris, when both were working on a pair of horror movies.  One, The Horror of Party Beach, was so bad that it has achieved cult status and is featured in Medved and Dreyfuss’ book “_.”  The other film, The Curse of the Living Corpse, was Roy Scheider’s first film.

In the mid-1970s, Dan took a position as Drama Director at The Brearley School in New York City.  There he taught acting and stagecraft for 19 years, directing hundreds of plays and dozens of musicals.  His students were the daughters of people such as Leonard Bernstein, Calvin Trillin, Itzhak Perlman and Frank Loesser among other notables. Those he trained include Diane Paulis, who last year was named Artistic Director of the American Repertory Theatre in Cambridge.

It was while Dan was teaching at Brearley that he helped to found WHAT.  He served on the WHAT board of directors until his death so that he could continue to have a voice in the theater he helped to start.

Dan was more than his accomplishments, of course.  He was a big-hearted man with a legendary sense of humor that permeated both his private and professional life.  That was never more obvious than at his funeral, where several lifelong friends recalled a larger-than-life personality who was at once creative and fun loving.

“I’ve had a good run,” he said to his oncologist when learning 15 months ago that he had inoperable cancer.

He is survived by his wife Dina Harris, who will remain in Wellfleet, and two children.  His son Sheafe Walker was a sound designer for many Off Broadway shows as well as at WHAT.  He is now an attorney specializing in entertainment law.  His daughter, Daisy Walker, is a theater director who has worked on Broadway, at Radio City Music Hall, and in numerous regional theaters.  An associate director for the Broadway hit Jersey Boys, she last year took time off from that job to direct Ride at WHAT, and this year she will be returning to Wellfleet to direct The Little Dog Laughed on the Julie Harris Stage.   His wife and two children were by his side when he succumbed to pneumonia on March 6th.

A small funeral was held Tuesday March 10th at the Church of St. Mary’s of the Harbor, in Provincetown, and officiated by the Reverend John F.Smith. The Nickerson Funeral home in Wellfleet made arrangements for cremation.

WHAT plans to hold a Memorial for Dan at the Julie Harris Stage at 1pm on August 15th.

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Amy Surrette Greene, well-known Cape Realtor, dies

Named Realtor of the Year for 1998, 2000
Volunteered extensive time for civic organizations

Amy Surrette Greene, a Cape Cod Realtor with ERA Cape Real Estate, died unexpectedly in her home on Bass River on Thursday, Feb. 12.

Amy Surrette Greene was the beloved wife of Christopher Greene and beloved daughter of Robert R. Surrette. She is predeceased by her beloved mother, Anita Grace Pizzuti Surrette.

Amy was born in Worcester, on June 2, 1959. She moved to the Cape with her family in 1972, where she graduated from Dennis-Yarmouth High School. She attended the American International College in Springfield, graduating with a degree in accounting.

She worked as an accountant until 1987 in the Springfield area and then moved back to the Cape to become a Realtor and join the family real estate business, Surette Realty.

In 2000, she merged her company with Dick Martin & Assoc. Inc., which became ERA Martin Surette Realty in 2005 and then ERA Cape Real Estate, with four offices on the Cape.

A top real estate broker on Cape

An outstanding Realtor, Amy consistently placed in the top producers on Cape Cod, finding literally thousands of buyers their dream home on Cape Cod. Amy was a devoted volunteer leader at the Cape Cod and Islands Association of Realtors and Multiple Listing Service and served as their 1996 president.

Her peers recognized her exemplary leadership and contributions, choosing her as the 1998 and 2000 Realtor of the Year.

She was the recipient of the Charles F. Lockhart Distinguished Service Award as well as the current chairwoman for the 2009 MLS Task Force and the Cape Realtor association's bylaws and rules and regulations committee.

Amy was an accomplished real estate instructor throughout Massachusetts and took pride in helping educate her fellow Realtors. For 2004, the Massachusetts Association of Realtors recognized her by bestowing the highest award for professional instructors, the Educator of the Year Award.

Gave time to church, library, civic organizations

Amy was the president of the Dennis Library Trust. For many years, she was an active Confraternity of Christian Doctrine instructor at St. Pius X Church. Amy gave of her time and talents to the American Cancer Society and The Cape Cod Heart Association as well as the Dennis Festival Days and Firework Display in conjunction with the Dennis Chamber of Commerce.

Survivors include her brothers, Robert J. and James F., and Ronald J. Surrette; sisters-in-law Joan, Connie and Nancy; nieces and nephews Laurie Surrette Lamy, Marie Surrette Foy, Jeffrey Surrette, Jamie Surrette, Sarah Surrette and Robert S. Surrette; great-nieces and a great-nephew, Elizabeth and Sarah Lamy and Connor Foy.

Survivors also include her sisters and brothers-in-law, Franklin and Linda Greene, Brendan Greene and A.J. and Tina Greene Luke, and nieces and nephews Erica Lomba and Jason and Nicole Greene, Samantha, Savannah and Trevor Luke, and grandniece, Allessa Lomba and grandnephew, Robert Lomba; and cousins, Dennis, Nancy and Marlene Surrette, Steve and Stacey Pizzuti and David and Lisa Pizzuti.

Visitation will be at the Doane, Beal & Ames Funeral Home, 729 Route 134, South Dennis, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m., on Thursday, Feb. 19.

Services will be at St. Pius X Church in Yarmouth at 10 a.m., on Friday, Feb. 20. Burial will follow.

After the burial, a gathering will be held at The Cape and Islands Board of Realtors on Midtech Drive in West Yarmouth.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in her name to the American Cancer Society.

More information is available by calling Doane, Beal & Ames at 508-385-7116.

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Patrick Butler, 54: devoted husband, father, civic leader

Patrick M. Butler, 54, of Centerville, died Thursday, Jan 1, of complications from surgery following a brief illness.

He was the son of the late William F. and Dawn Butler of Rochester, N.Y., and Cape Cod.

Patrick's love of Cape Cod began while summering in Hyannis Port throughout his youth. In 1968, he moved to the Cape full-time with his family.

In 1985, he married Susan Jameson. Sue and Patrick initially resided in Hyannis Port and later moved to Centerville where they lived with their sons, Jay and Peter.

Patrick graduated from the College of the Holy Cross and Suffolk Law School.

He began his career as assistant district attorney for the Cape & Islands and most recently was a partner with Nutter, McClennen & Fish LLP as manager of its Hyannis office. Patrick specialized in land use and was one of the firm's most successful and well-regarded attorneys. His professional accomplishments were numerous and he was extremely proud of his Nutter "family".

He was a force for good in community and civic organizations. Summering in Hyannis Port during the Kennedy presidency had a major impact on his sense of community service.

When recognized as Hyannis Area Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year in 1997, he shared in his acceptance speech the impact of the image of President Kennedy walking along the beach near the breakwater in Hyannis Port with these words by the Apostle Luke written beneath it, "For of those to whom much is given, much is required."

Patrick lived by these words. He was on the vestry of St. Peter's Episcopal Church and senior warden at St. Andrew's by the Sea. He actively served on several volunteer boards. Over the years he was chairman of the Cape Cod Healthcare Foundation, president of the board for the Barnstable Horace Mann Charter School, president of the Barnstable Youth Hockey Association and a committee chairman at the Hyannisport Club. He was dedicated to the mock trial program for school children and coached several of his children's sports teams.

Patrick enjoyed his time with family and friends boating in the waters off Hyannis Port, attending a Red Sox game or relaxing at the West Beach Club where he was once a lifeguard.

His interests and passions were varied and included history, aviation, youth hockey, Little League, golf, politics and decadent chocolate desserts.

His boys were his life. He was proud of their accomplishments in academics and athletics. Sue is forever grateful that Patrick's strength of character, honor and respect for others lives on in their sons.

He had a strong spiritual side. Patrick was honored to have officiated five weddings for friends as well as his niece Katie.

Survivors include the love of his life, "Susie" and sons Jay, a senior at Duke University, and Peter, a junior at Barnstable High School; three brothers, William F. Butler III and wife Elizabeth of Hyannis Port, Michael J. Butler and wife Karen of Chicago and Dr. Christopher L. Butler of Pittsburgh; and several nieces and nephews.

Visiting hours will be at the John-Lawrence Funeral Home, 3778 Falmouth Road (Route 28), Marstons Mills on Monday, Jan. 5 from 3 to 7 p.m.

The funeral service will be at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 421 Wianno Ave., Osterville on Tuesday, January 6, 2009 at 11 a.m. Burial will be private.

A celebration of his life will be held during the summer at St.Andrew's by the Sea Episcopal Church in Hyannis Port.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made to the Patrick M. Butler Charitable Fund, Cape Cod Foundation, P.O. Box 1630, Hyannis, MA 02601.

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Calling hours, internment set for Jordan Mendes

Visiting hours set for Tuesday, Dec. 23
Interment will follow in Beechwood Cemetery on Dec. 30

HYANNIS - Jordan M. Mendes, known as J., 16, died Monday, Dec. 15, in Hyannis.

Born March 16, 1992, he grew up in Hyannis and attended the Barnstable Public Schools. At the time of his death, he was a sophomore at Barnstable High School.

He enjoyed weight lifting and belonged to the weight-lifting club at the high school. He also enjoyed playing basketball and football, rap music, the outdoors and spending time with kids. He was considered family-oriented and helped his family whenever possible.

Survivors include his mother, Paula Carberry of Hyannis; his father, Manuel L. Mendes;  brothers Joshua Carberry of Sagamore, Lawrence Hollinger of Hyannis and Mykel Mendes of Hyannis; and sisters Tasha Carberry of Hyannis, Manisha Mendes of Hyannis, Tyianne M. Mendes of Boston and Nelise Mendes of Boston; and his grandparents, Tyianne L. Mendes of Hyannis, Manuel W. Mendes of Boston, Karen Santos of Hyannis and Robert Carberry of Vermont.

Visiting hours will be at the Doane, Beal & Ames Funeral Home, 160 W. Main Street, Hyannis, on Tuesday, Dec. 23, from 4 to 7 p.m. Interment will be in Beechwood Cemetery on Dec. 30 at 1 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Jordan Mendes Memorial Fund, c/o TD Banknorth, 307 Main St., Hyannis, MA 02601.