David Thomas Butler, Sr.
Retired Everett Fire Chief
David Thomas Butler, Sr, Retired Everett Fire Chief and longtime North Reading resident, passed away at home on Feb. 19 surrounded by his loved ones, following a long and courageous fight with cancer. He was 65 years old.
He was the beloved husband of 42 years to Mary (Gorman) Butler, adored father of Erin (Butler) Carlson and her husband, Doug; Kelly (Butler) Frew and her husband, David, David T. Butler, Jr. and his wife, Nancy and Sarah (Butler) Balsley and her husband, Michael, all of North Reading; cherished grandfather of Brayden, Blake, and Avery Carlson, Hannah, Lily and Patrick Frew, Olivia Guzman, Alyssa Butler and Connor and Ella Balsley; brother of Roy Butler, Patricia St. Germain and Cheryl Bond. David was pre-deceased by his parents, Everett Fire Lt. Roy B. Butler and Lucille (Morel) Butler.
Born and raised in Everett, David graduated from Malden Catholic and Suffolk University with a BS in biology and marine sciences.
Joining the department in 1978, for 39 years, David proudly served as a firefighter for the City of Everett. Serving alongside his father at the start of his career, David rose through the ranks to become chief of the department in August of 2000, a role he filled loyally until his retirement in July of 2016. Among many accolades and achievements throughout his career, David was named Firefighter of the Year in 1985, was invited to speak internationally numerous times as an expert on LNG safety, and twice earned gubernatorial appointments, most notably as a member of the prestigious Commonwealth of Massachusetts Fire Service Commission. In his retirement, David served as Executive Director of Metrofire, working alongside the chiefs of Metro Boston Fire Departments, a group to which he attributes much of his success as chief and so many great friendships in his retirement.
As devoted as he was to the fire department, David’s true loves were his wife, children and their spouses, and especially his ten grandchildren. Any time he could spend with them at their home in North Reading or on Cape Cod was precious. His happiest times were spent gathered around a dinner table over a meal that he cooked for his large family and extensive group of friends.
Funeral arrangements were by the JF Ward Funeral Home, Everett. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children at www.lovetotherescue.org.
For online guestbook, please visit: www.jfwardfuneralhome.com.
Olympia Sordillo
Of Saugus, formerly of Everett
Olympia M. (Statuto) Sordillo of Saugus, formerly of Everett, entered into eternal rest on Thursday, Feb. 20 in the Melrose Wakefield Hospital after a brief illness. She was 98 years old.
Born in Revere, Olympia lived in Everett for most of her life before relocating to Saugus recently because of the opening of the Encore Boston Harbor of which she was proud to tell people at the casino that she lived right over there, across from the casino.
She was the beloved wife of the late Anthony J. Sordillo, dear and devoted mother of Dr. Anthony M. Sordillo of Maine and Jean M. Sordillo of Saugus and sister of the late Ralph, Carmen, Louis and Emily Statuto, Helen Rosanio, Grace Ferrera, Phyllis Dello Russo and Lydia Rampelberg. Olympia is also survived by three loving grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral arrangements were by the Cafasso & Sons Funeral Home, Everett. Interment was in Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett. Contributions in Olympia’s memory to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, 495 Old Connecticut Path, Framingham, MA 01701 would be sincerely appreciated.