Longtime Kings Park Resident, William E. Butler Dies

William E. Butler, longtime Kings Park resident and reitired New York City Firefighter died after a battle with pulmonary fibrosis contracted during his recovery efforts at the World Trade Center after the 9/11 attacks, according to an obituary in Newsday.

Butler worked tirelessly in the days following the 9/11 attacks to find his son Thomas. Patch spoke with Bill Butler, brother of Thomas on the tenth anniversary of the attacks.

Butler told us then that both his father and brother Stephen worked endlessly at the site. His brother Stephen would work 12-hour shifts. One would work all night and the other in the day.

“It was like they handed a baton off. When one stopped, the other started. I am very proud of them,” he said. He told Patch then that his father had been diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis and that a biopsy showed that he had cement dust in his lungs.

Thomas' body was never recovered.

According to his obituary, William Butler was the beloved husband of Peggy for 52 years. Loving father of Bill, Lt. Steve PAPD, Eileen Cristiano and the late Thomas (FDNY on 9/11/01) and father-in-law of Martha Butler-O'Brien and Patrick Cristiano NYPD. Cherished grandfather of Sean, Katie, Kelly, Cassandra, Brianna, Patrick and Christopher. Dear brother of Nora McFadden and brother-in-law of James McFadden and the late Muriel & Jerry Gunn. Fond uncle of Kathy (Rick) Whalen, Jerry (Dena) Gunn and Tara (Brendan) Hoyle.

A wake for William will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.-9 p.m. at the Butler-Hughes Funeral Home in Kings Park. A funeral mass will be held Thursday at 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph's Church in Kings Park. 

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the Thomas M. Butler Memorial Scholarship Fund c/o Butler-Hughes Funeral Home. www.butler-hughes funeralhome.com. 

It is with sadness that Patch reports this news.