Monday, January 3, 2022
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Gene "Butchie" at home September 2019. Note: tool in hand and tinkering as usual. This is the latest photo Donna has of her beloved brother, who was 71 at the time. Unfortunately, due to Covid-19 and travel restrictions, this was Donna's last trip to Massachusetts...... My brother Butchie suffered many personal losses in his lifetime including his friend Martha and Uncle John Giangrande who was his favored sailing buddy...... His friend, Lee, was a friend from childhood and I don't know if they stayed in touch...... Although he lived a quiet and somewhat reclusive lifestyle, he was passionately involved in the civic affairs of his community...... His home was his solitary refuge, but very few people will remember he owned a trailer at a trailer park in Meredith, NH where he spent time to sail. Let me tell you, the trailer was rustic!
My brother was the frugal one in the family. He never bought anything new, bought old cars and kept them going by buying junk cars for parts. He shopped at the consignment shops. He was content to have the basic necessities and nothing more.
Butchie had a quick wit and a dry sense of humor and was as stubborn as our mother, with whom he will be buried. She doted on him, her only son. No matter what time he came home, she always made sure food was on the stove. When I had him over for dinner there was one basic essential: Red Pepper. He sprinkled it on everything! I will miss my brother and regret his premature death. He is at peace now.
