Somerville to Remember Theodore 'Ted' Buttner, Who Died Sunday

On Tuesday, we posted a story about the death of Theodore Buttner, 87, who died after a pedestrian accident in Peabody on Sunday.

Buttner was raised in Somerville and spent nearly 50 years living on Walnut Street, according to his daughter, Patricia Caton, who lives in Peabody.

Caton described her father as being active in the Somerville community, particularly at Saint Joseph Church in Union Square, where he served as an ecumenical minister and was a parishioner for decades.

He spent 35 years working for the MBTA, and he was involved in a local organizations, including the Medford Auxiliary Fire Department, Caton said.

He "gave a lot of time and energy freely" and never asked for recognition, she said of her father, whom she called a "gentle, kind" man who enjoyed listening to people, and when he did, "he would care."

Among other things, Buttner served in the Navy during World War II. He was stationed in Pearl Harbor after the attack and worked as an aerial photographer, Caton said.

Buttner , where he sometimes worshiped with his family. The driver of the car was an 84-year-old Peabody man, and as of Tuesday police were investigating the accident.

Buttner leaves behind five children, seven grandchildren and a great-grandchild, according to Caton. Among his relatives in Somerville, Buttner also leaves behind Alderman At-Large Jack Connolly, his nephew.

A wake for Buttner will be held at the Brown-Flaherty Funeral Home Thursday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., and a funeral service will be held at Saint Joseph Church Friday at 9 a.m. Family and friends are invited to attend.