Butch has been a lover of New Paltz since the mid-1960s. He is an 18-year liver transplant survivor. Nothing stops him. He keeps going. He currently works driving people to and from the New York City and New Jersey airports. His emotion towards and enthusiasm for our community made this interview a memorable pleasure to conduct.
What brought you to New Paltz?
My best friend all through childhood came here to go to SUNY in the summer of 1967. I came in September of 1968. He had already flunked out! But he told me about these great places: Chez Joey’s, P&G’s. I decided to stay for my whole life. We were driving down Main Street and we passed the Country Coffee Shop. When I went in, I saw on the wall everyone’s individual coffee mugs with their names on them. I instantly fell in love with that community feeling. Years later, I drove a school bus, enabling me to meet the local people, not just the college folks. That’s when I knew I was home; down-to-earth good people. The farm people. The country people. So real. I loved them.
What have you contributed to New Paltz over these many years? What jobs have you had?
For ten years, I served on the local planning board. That was very stressful and even hurtful at times. There was so much opposition to growth. Aside from that, what I am most proud of is that I built the September 11 memorial on the corner of North Putt Corners Road and Henry W. DuBois Drive. We planted a tree of remembrance, small and scrawny at the beginning, now full and beautiful. For another ten years, I was the greeter at Mohonk Mountain House. I pumped gas at the old Shell Station. In the 1970’s, I was the long-haired hippie bus driver. It took a while, but I earned the respect of the locals in spite of my appearance. I, in my mind and heart, became a local then.
You are known to be a politically conservative person. What is it like to live in a basically progressive town?
I am only considered conservative in this community (laughs). Anywhere else, I am a moderate. It hurts how much I have been judged.
I love New Paltz since the day I got here 55 years ago. Whether it was on the planning board or local politics before it became too vitriolic, I served as best as I could. Unfortunately, the liberal values here did not translate to acceptance of political differences. But God bless them. They have an opinion too.
If you were to leave here, what would you miss? Recall a great moment as a citizen of New Paltz.
I would miss my farm friends. I have great love for the farm families: the Moriello’s, the Dressel’s, the Wright’s and the Ferrante’s. Since my heart attack, I walk those farms almost every day. The conversations I have with these people and the lessons of life I have learned from those farms have changed me and made me a better human being. All those moments, walking the farms in all seasons and weather are great moments I cherish.
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