Salvatore Butch Buffone

Salvatore P. "Butch" Buffone, 88, formerly of 9 Primrose St. a friend to all, passed away Thursday, June 4th 2009 in the Memorial Hospital. His wife and partner of 58 years, Rena A. (DiCicco) Buffone passed away in 2000. Butch is survived by his devoted daughter, Gayle M. Hickey, of Sutton with whom he lived; two brothers, Louis Buffone of Brunswick, ME and Nicholas Buffone of Millbury; a sister, Rose Varieur of Worcester; three grandchildren, Michael, Steven and Patricia Hickey; two great grandchildren; many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends. A granddaughter, Karen Hickey, his friend and son-in-law John "Jack" Hickey, nine brothers, Charles, Frank, Raymond, Albert, Joseph, Peter, Lee, Armando and his twin brother, George Buffone, and a sister, Carmella Buffone all predeceased him. Butch was born in Worcester, one of 14 children born to Giuseppe and Antoinette (Belsito) Buffone. He graduated from Commerce High School where he was a member of the track and field teams, he played football for two state championship teams, Dartmouth HC and Olympic AC, and he was an avid baseball player, playing for many teams in the Grafton Hill area. He entered the U.S. Army during World War II serving in the Pacific Theater, rising to the rank of Sergeant. He returned to Worcester to establish, co-own, and serve as President of the B & R Tool and Die Company, formerly located in West Boylston, retiring after 12 years. Butch then worked for the State of Massachusetts over 10 years as an Investigator for the Department of Industrial Accidents, Saltonstall Building, Boston, MA. He was a member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church. The Eastside Post 201, American Legion, The Knights of Columbus Pope John XXIII and the 4th degree Bishop O'Reilly Assembly, the Columbus Civic Association and its Golf League, member of the Calvary Retreat League for over 40 years, a member of the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 4, and a former member of the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Men's Club. Butch had an extreme passion for golf; he played the game whenever and wherever he could, mostly at Green Hill Golf Course. He also coached Tom Ash Little League for 4 years, and served with the Boy Scouts of America, Troup 70 at the Lady of Loreto Church for 6 years. The funeral will be held Tuesday, June 9th from the MERCADANTE FUINERAL HOME & CHAPEL, 370 Plantation St with a Mass at 11:00 a.m. in Our Lady of Mt Carmel Church, 24 Mulberry St. Burial will be in Worcester County Memorial Park in Paxton. Friends and relatives are invited to visit with the family Monday, June 8th from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the funeral home. Members of the Eastside Post 201, American Legion will meet at 6:00 p.m. Monday in the funeral home to conduct their ritual. Members of the Pope John Council Knights of Columbus will meet to conduct their ritual at 6:30 p.m. In Lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the charity of St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or a charity of your choice.