Robert Arnold Buttner, age 68, formerly of Killington, died Feb. 26, 2020, surrounded by family during his last hours in a hospital in his current residence of Venice, Florida. Bob Buttner was born in Flushing, New York on Oct. 22, 1951, and was the son of Arnold and Emilia Buttner. He grew up in Flushing and summered in Candlewood Lake, New Fairfield, Connecticut where he started his love of swimming — including holding some unbreakable records (mostly due to regulation changes in length of swim laps). He attended Brooklyn Technical High School, where he was a great asset to the swim team; then went onto SUNY Maritime College in Bronx, New York, where he was competitively successful in swimming and baseball. He graduated with a Bachelors Degree and as a United States Coast Guard Licensed Officer in charge of the Navigational Watch. After graduation Bob sailed for the Exxon Shipping Company/Seariver Maritime, and there acquired his Captain’s License.
During his lengthy vacations from sea, Bob Buttner became an avid skier who resided in Killington, Vermont. It was there that he met another avid skier who was part of a share house, but lived in New York City — June Hughes. They were married in 1982 at a Our Lady of Good Counsel Chapel in White Plains, New York. When they were ready, the happy couple chose to raise a family in Killington. Bob and June Buttner became the proud parents of Allison and Timothy, and the family thrived within the mountain community.
In 1991, Bob Buttner suffered his first episode of epilepsy. Although his severe case of epilepsy was an extreme ailment that would rapidly deteriorate his abilities in speech — nonetheless to mention his health — he continued to be an avid and excellent golfer who loved people and never lost his smile.
After many happy years in Killington, June and Bob moved down to Venice, Florida in 2016; there they were able to make wonderful relationships through their passion for golf. To be fair, the Florida heat is brutal; so they continued to summer in Killington.
Buttner unexpectedly passed away in Venice, Florida on Feb. 26, 2020, and is survived by his wife June of 38 years, and their children: Allison and Robert (Kozar), Timothy; plus two sisters: Jeanette Boyle, and Maryann Bernard, not to mention many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his father Arnold, his mother Emilia, and his sister Barbara Sandstedt.
While a funeral and celebration of life are indiscernible at this time (due to current pandemic circumstances) those who knew and loved Bob Buttner are asked to lift a glass to his honor on Oct. 22, at 7 p.m. It would give his family great comfort to know that as a community we can celebrate his life, in any way simultaneously.
