‘Good-by for now’
'Good-by for now'
Knowing where I came from as far as my family is one thing. Discovering just how similar my life is to my grandfather I called “Pop” is quite another.
David Francis Butler was drafted into military service in 1967 as an Army chaplain’s assistant for two years. The stint was his only break from a nearly four-decades career at Kodak‘s research, instant photography and government project divisions in Rochester, N.Y. As an amateur photographer, Kodak was a good place to work as it he had a passion for snapping pictures his whole life.
My time at Syracuse University has been mostly split between being an Army ROTC cadet and Photography major in the Newhouse School. I will graduate in 2024 as an officer in the Army — making me only the second person in our family along with my grandfather to serve in the military. And I certainly foresee photography as part of my professional and personal life ahead.
My grandfather would struggle with Lewy body dementia, closing out his time at Kodak in 2002 and eventually taking his life in 2014. I was in middle school at the time Pop died, and it still saddens me that we only had the 12 years of my life to be together.
A decade later, I realized I have been subconsciously following in Pop’s footsteps. This project was dedicated to understanding Pop better, learn more about his extraordinary life and potentially see where life could take me.
Pop, Jan and my father, Todd, lived at the 154 Woodhill Apartments in Rochester, N.Y., from 1970-1972 as Pop returned to Kodak following his stint in the Army.
From 2005-2012, Pop and Jan lived on Melbourne Green near Fairport where I have my most most vivid memories of my grandfather from Christmas gatherings to him falling asleep in his recliner. Also, downstairs in the basement was a workshop where Pop made items like birdhouses and wooden vases.
Pop took this photo of his camera and camera bag that award a contest prize, which he was extremely proud of. I'm proud that I now have the bag and camera he used to take the photo.
This box, which originally came from Boy Scout camp in Philmont, New Mexico, in 1959, includes an Army medal and Kodak pins Pop collected. Underneath the box is a newspaper clipping that mentioned him attending Philmont.
A collection of photos of Pop throughout his young life including an embrace with my grandmother on the right.
The wood-working tool Pop was given by his father and passed along to my father. Always handy, Pop helped make my family's fireplace, birdhouses and vases among other items.
