William Buttrick ’55

William Buttrick, a retired Episcopal priest, died Feb. 1, 1999, in Richmond, Va., of heart failure.

Will prepared at Middlesex School. At Princeton, he majored in European history, earning high honors. He attended Episcopal Theological School and was ordained in 1960. After serving at Christ Church in Cincinnati, Will returned to his native Massachusetts as rector first of St. Mark's, a Caribbean-American congregation in Dorchester, and then of St. John's in Westwood. He served later in Virginia for 21 years, primarily as rector of St. Mark's in Richmond.

While understanding of friends' weaknesses, Will set high standards for himself in matters large and small -- classmates may remember him in class wearing coat, tie, and hat, which he considered proper attire at 18. Fewer people knew he marched for voting rights in Alabama, or of the energy he devoted to civil rights and early-childhood education during tumultuous times in Boston.

After ordination, Will thought of becoming a teacher of the history of religion but decided to devote his working life to pastoral care, which became the hallmark of his ministry. On the death of Bishop Robert Hall of Virginia, Will wrote, "Instead of greatness, he sought goodness and kindness, and he ended by being a good priest and a very good man." These words apply equally to Will himself. The class extends its deepest sympathy to Will's family.

The Class of 1955