Obituary: John Butler, 43

John Butler (submitted photo)

John Butler, a gay man who’d lived in Arlington, Va., died suddenly on Dec. 31. He was 43.

Butler was at a New Year’s Eve party when he became ill. He was pronounced dead en route to a hospital and of a brain aneurysm according to his friend, Jack Mackey. Butler had been in good health and was a fitness instructor at a Gold’s Gym in Arlington.

Butler was born in Fort Smith, Ark., on Aug. 23, 1967. He’d spent a year in Brazil as an exchange student and graduated from Loyola University in New Orleans with a degree in international business.

He’d lived abroad and in Atlanta before coming to the D.C. area in 2007 where he was in the human relations department of the U.S. Postal Service.

He participated in marathons in Dublin and Amsterdam and enjoyed travel. He was fluent in Portuguese and Spanish and also knew some Italian and French.

A funeral was held Jan. 6 in Greensboro, N.C., where his family lives. He’s survived by his parents, Nancy and Dan Butler, brother Bradley, nephew Austin, and other relatives.

His D.C.-area friends are having a gathering in his memory Feb. 5 at the home of one of Butler’s friends in Alexandria. The gathering will be held at 4556 Strutfield Lane in the club room. For more information, contact Lee Castillo at HYPERLINK “mailto:leecastillo20005@gmail.com”leecastillo20005@gmail.com or 703-209-5291.