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Post a reply || Back to Message Board Frederick Whitaker "Butchie" - Class of 1965
Submitted by Bill Herring 1965: My lifelong friend and childhood next door neighbor passed away Feb 5th, 2019. Fred Whitaker, age 71 commonly known by "Butch". We were always together as kids. We started kindergarten together and finished NFA together as well. We had a lot of great laughs and fun times. Butch had a stroke at the age of 47 while at work. He was a butcher at Lloyds in Newburgh and Grand Union as a floater. The stroke left him to brain damaged and was no longer able to work or take care of himself. He has been in a nursing home near Peekskill since 1994. Cruel and certainly not the legacy that he would have wanted for himself. I visited him whenever I could and when I was in Newburgh. The care for him was excellent! Often, he didn't recognize me or was aware of my presence and other times he was very sharp. When up to his having a good day, his 'old' memory going back 50-60 yrs was acutely accurate and recalled small details. At the same time unable to recall recent activities or visitors. He did LOVE having our therapy dog, Kipper come and visit. Butch was always an animal lover. He leaves behind 2 boys, Fred Jr., and Chris. and their families. His sister Lois Jean Affuso has been his faithful guardian overseeing all aspects of him confined care since day one. Extended local cousins friends members also supported and visited Butch regularly. Those who might remember Butch may recall that he loved stock car racing at Middletown. He loyally assisted on a race team crew for a local driver until he, the driver lost his life at the track back in the early 90's. Butch was an avid sportsman and had a camp at Tupper Lake, NY. Hunted, fished and an archery buff. Loved a simple life. Great sense of humor. It's so sad that a good, honest, hardworking guy has such an awful life that was beyond his control. May he rest in peace. He will not be forgotten. - Bill Herring Replies to this post
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Frederick Whitaker "Butchie" died peacefully Tuesday evening February 5,
2019. He suffered a severe stroke 25 years ago and lived in a Nursing home in
Peekskill NY , upon his release from Arden Hill Hospital. His condition had
deteriorated the past few months.
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