CapeCodToday Obituaries

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.

Former librarian director and well-known singer/songwriter Judy Wallace remembered

Judy Wallace, 54, singer, songwriter, library director

Judy Wallace, 54, a well-known singer, songwriter, performer and recording artist who also enjoyed a rewarding career as a library director in Mattapoisett and on Cape Cod, died peacefully at home early Saturday morning after a remarkable, valiant 9-year battle with brain cancer.  She was the wife of David Gries. 

Judith Ester Wallace was born June 20, 1954 in Southington, Conn. and grew up in West-Central Connecticut, attending local schools and Greer Academy in upstate New York.  She began singing at a young age and performed locally with her sisters as “The Wallace Warblers.”

At age 16, she hitchhiked to the West Coast, and spent time in California and northwestern Montana before returning to the East and moving to Wellfleet, Mass., on Outer Cape Cod.  She began collaborating with many local musicians including her future husband, Hamilton Kahn.  Their fist son, Ian, was born in 1976.  Matthew, their second son, was born in 1982.  They divorced in 1991. 

Judy enjoyed a long career as an accomplished professional musician.  In addition to her vocal talent, she was a skilled guitarist and harmonica player and gifted song writer.  By the mid-1980s she had established The Judy Wallace Group, a changing cast of some of the area’s best musicians including Lisa Brown, Tom Fenton, Gary Locke, Bruce Abbott, Dick Wetmore, Mike Taylor, Tom Filogomo, Paul Nossiter and Rick Arnoldi, among others.  The group was noteworthy and built a following by appealing to audiences of all ages, playing a combination of swing, blues, and more contemporary styles.  Judy later collaborated with her husband David Gries and many other accomplished South Coast musicians, with live performances continuing throughout her battle with brain cancer.  

Judy was also a great lover of books, and in the 1980s resumed her formal education, earning degrees from Cape Cod Community College, UMASS Dartmouth, and Simmons College, before becoming Library Director at Brooks Free Library in Harwich.  She moved to Mattapoisett and served as Library Director there, continuing to work through her illness and treatments until several months ago.  Judy showed tremendous vision and drive in transforming both Harwich and Mattapoisett libraries into greatly expanded facilities with large collections and state-of-the-art technology resources.  

Survivors include her husband; 2 sons, Ian Kahn and his wife Staci of South Boston and Matthew Kahn of Boston; her brother and 5 sisters, Sharon Scharrer of Roanoke, VA, Rose Wallace of Eastham, MA, Gayle Wallace of Jacksonville, FL, William Wallace of Orleans, MA, Suzanne Wallace-Correiro of Hyannis and Tina Masciangioli of Arlington, VA; several nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at a time and place to be announced.  Private funeral arrangements are with the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home For Funerals, 50 County Rd. (Rt. 6) Mattapoisett. Donations may be made to the Mattapoisett Library Trust P.O. Box 475, Mattapoisett, MA 02739 or to Community Nurse and Hospice Care, P.O. Box 751, Fairhaven, MA 02719.

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