The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

THE death of College of the Bahamas lecturer Anthony Butler has left the institution in disbelief, with one of his former colleagues telling The Tribune that the “loving, caring family man” will be sorely missed by all with whom he came into contact.

Arturo Hutchinson yesterday said he remained in “shock” over the death of a man whom he considered a “brother” after a long friendship, which spanned more than two decades.

Mr Hutchinson, an assistant professor at COB’s School of Mathematics, Physics and Technology, and Mr Butler, an electrical technician in the department, first connected in 1979 and remained inseparable until his death on Saturday night.

The two had formed such a close bond, Mr Hutchinson recalled, that he was at a complete loss of words when he tried to break the news to his children who saw Mr Butler as an uncle.

Students and faculty at COB remembered Mr Butler yesterday as a “disciplinarian” who was always smiling, many of them having seen him just four days ago on the campus.

A memorial has been set up in his memory at the campus.

“I am still in disbelief at what went on,” Mr Hutchinson said. “I just can’t believe it. I am in shock. I called my children in the US and when I tried to tell them, my wife had to take the phone because I just could not speak. It is rough.

“If anything Butler was a man and a father who also took care of his children from day one. Even after their mother died he took them in because they were first living in Exuma. But he took them in and had them living in his house despite the fact that they were all grown and some had their own children.

“He would leave here almost every day to pick up his son from school or he would have to pick up his two granddaughters, drop them home and feed them before he came back to work.

“Many nights he would leave here and say he had to stop to the food store to get something for his children because that was just him, he wanted make sure they were taken care of.”

Mr Hutchinson said this same love and care was reflected in the School of Mathematics, Physics and Technology to students who needed assistance. He said Mr Butler was very knowledgeable in the department where he was seen as a disciplinarian and took pleasure in helping students, especially seniors who needed help completing projects.

“As far as COB is concerned he will be really missed in the school because he was very knowledgeable.

“He was very helpful to the students especially the ones who had to do their senior project. He would ask serious questions and they had to know about what they were doing before he even let them in the lab. The students never wanted him in the room when they were presenting because he would question them on certain things,” Mr Hutchinson said.

Mr Butler, who was also a cow beller in the Valley Boys Junkanoo group, was stabbed during an argument at his home in Imperial Park last Saturday.