Over the first years at EHS. John and I became very good friends. He and I would drive up to the foothills and hunt rabbits, and birds. Often, we would head out to Emerald Bay to body surf. John was always wanting to be outdoors. He had such a pleasant, positive aditude. He was one of the really great guys. He will always be missed, and on all of our minds. Rest in Peace my friend. We will meet again. Larry Fritz
John suffered most of all the kids who were in that car crash in our Junior year. Some of them died instantly. John died by inches. The John Butler we knew disappeared and none of us was ever the same after that day. What really happened to him? I was sad to see his name in the Memories section here. I would hate to think it was suicide, but just imagine his position as the driver in that horrific accident. Remember all of us avoiding him for awhile out of a misplaced loyalty and "respect" for the memory of Wayne Lightfoot and the others? No one but John knew just what caused the crash. Did he share his recollection of that day with anyone? It was easy for the rest of us to jump to conclusions about teenagers and what might have been involved, but the truth is, maybe it was unavoidable. Maybe no one was to blame.
So, after all these years, I want to say I'm sorry to John for the anguish and sense of guilt that he must have carried alone. What can be the lesson here? Reach out and hug somebody. You just may light up someone's way.
John Butler was my friend. We spent many days and hours together. Did homework every night at his house in the converted 2 car garage detached from the house. Tore each other apart in there. Shared it with his older brother Jim. By the way his dad was a smart engineer that got us thru physics and all the math classes. We surfed and hunted together. But that one dreadful day of the lose of classmates who broke our hearts we will never forget. I was at his home waiting for him to get back from the trip up the wintery mountain. I saw the panic at the house. I have done all I could to heal the family. John and I went down that hill later and picked up Waynes wallet and several purse items on the way back up. That hurt. We will never know how much John could handle. When it happened they were in John's parents brand new Pontiac Tempest station wagon type. He was the only one with a seat belt on. Now days they would close the road. Last song they heard was "Popsicles and Icicles" by the Murmaids. Have no idea what ever happened to John or his family. God Bless His Family and friends. Saw him once after college. He came to visit in Newport Beach. His brother is James Edward Butler who graduated 3 years ahead of us from EHS of course. If you can help find him please let me know.
Larry Fritz
Over the first years at EHS. John and I became very good friends. He and I would drive up to the foothills and hunt rabbits, and birds. Often, we would head out to Emerald Bay to body surf. John was always wanting to be outdoors. He had such a pleasant, positive aditude. He was one of the really great guys. He will always be missed, and on all of our minds. Rest in Peace my friend. We will meet again. Larry Fritz
Susan McRobbie (Harrigan)
John suffered most of all the kids who were in that car crash in our Junior year. Some of them died instantly. John died by inches. The John Butler we knew disappeared and none of us was ever the same after that day. What really happened to him? I was sad to see his name in the Memories section here. I would hate to think it was suicide, but just imagine his position as the driver in that horrific accident. Remember all of us avoiding him for awhile out of a misplaced loyalty and "respect" for the memory of Wayne Lightfoot and the others? No one but John knew just what caused the crash. Did he share his recollection of that day with anyone? It was easy for the rest of us to jump to conclusions about teenagers and what might have been involved, but the truth is, maybe it was unavoidable. Maybe no one was to blame.
So, after all these years, I want to say I'm sorry to John for the anguish and sense of guilt that he must have carried alone. What can be the lesson here? Reach out and hug somebody. You just may light up someone's way.
Rita Arbuthnot (Rector)
Susan, beautiful words and insight. We were all changed that day.
Marianne Mack (Turk)
Exactly...Rest in Peace John~
John Fruhn
John Butler was my friend. We spent many days and hours together. Did homework every night at his house in the converted 2 car garage detached from the house. Tore each other apart in there. Shared it with his older brother Jim. By the way his dad was a smart engineer that got us thru physics and all the math classes. We surfed and hunted together.But that one dreadful day of the lose of classmates who broke our hearts we will never forget. I was at his home waiting for him to get back from the trip up the wintery mountain. I saw the panic at the house. I have done all I could to heal the family.
John and I went down that hill later and picked up Waynes wallet and several purse items on the way back up. That hurt. We will never know how much John could handle. When it happened they were in John's parents brand new Pontiac Tempest station wagon type. He was the only one with a seat belt on. Now days they would close the road. Last song they heard was "Popsicles and Icicles" by the Murmaids.
Have no idea what ever happened to John or his family. God Bless His Family and friends.
Saw him once after college. He came to visit in Newport Beach.
His brother is James Edward Butler who graduated 3 years ahead of us from EHS of course. If you can help find him please let me know.