Mark Richard Butt
DELMAR — Mark Richard Butt, 74, of Delmar passed away June 21 at Albany Medical Center from injuries sustained during a recent bicycle accident.
Mark was born May 10, 1942 in Montclair, N.J., to William and E. Lorranie Butt. He moved to Chatham, N.Y. where he lived until attending the University of Buffalo where he received a Pharmacy Degree. He later achieved additional degrees in Counseling and Public Administration. Mark was a Pharmacist for sixteen years and then worked for New York State in the Medicaid Prescription Program for approximately thirty years. He served several years as Treasurer and Chairman for the Eastern Medicaid Pharmacy Administrators Association. Mark retired from State services in 2010.
Mark was a dedicated husband, loving father and grandfather. He was a very friendly man with diverse intrest, and was always ready to engage in discussions on many topics. Mark was good company to his family and many friends, and was well known for his kindness, ability to listen, and agreeable nature. Mark was close with his grandchildren, and very involved in their lives. He was over joyed to have them all living nearby, and loved taking them swimming and hiking,
Mark always lived his life to the fullest. He loved fitness, reading, art, and music. He participated in many competitive and non-competitive events including triathlon, marathons and bicycle events, often receiving medals. Mark was proud to achieve a cumulative bicycle mileage exceeding the circumference of the Earth. He participated in the 2014 Ironman triathlon competition in Lake Placid, N.Y. He also enjoyed participating in men’s support groups, singing in the Bethlehem Senior Chorus, and handcrafting drums to participate in drumming sessions.
He was a beloved, long time member of the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany, mentoring many youth and serving in many positions on numerous committees. He also enjoyed serving on the Board of Camp Unirondack for many years.
Mark is survived by his loving wife Carol, twin sister, Marjorie Smith, brothers Peter and William, and sister Katherine Butt, two daughters and son-in law, Lauralee and Christopher Holtz of Delmar, and Georgia and Ethan Bowerman and Emerson, River and Orion Holtz.
A memorial service is planned for September 17, 2016 at 2:00 PM at the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany, 405 Washington Ave. Donations to Camp Unirondack www.unirondack.org/donate/are welcome in Mark’s honor.
Special thanks to the Albany Medical Center trauma team and ICU staff for their dedicated and caring treatment during Mark’s stay, and also many friends and family for the enormous outpouring of support. Mark has been an inspiration to many and will forever remain in our hearts.
“I have passed the mountain peak and my soul is soaring in the firmament of complete and unbounded freedom; I am in comfort, I am in peace.” — Kahlill Gibran
