JOHN R. BUTZ, 77 Owner of flower shop dies unexpectedly

The John R. 'Jack' Butz Humanitarian Award was started in 2001.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- One of the city's most recognizable business leaders has died unexpectedly.
John R. Butz, 77, owner of Butz Flowers on East Washington Street, was found dead in his home Saturday. Funeral arrangements were expected to be completed later today.
Friends said he was being treated for cancer, but his death was unexpected. He continued to work until the day before his death.
Those who knew him well say it's his generosity that will be most remembered.
"Anybody who came into the store and needed something was never turned away," said Mark Kauffman, Butz's business partner for the last 15 years. "I'd see teenagers come in involved in school events and he would always give something. Every time a little girl would walk in the store, he would give her a flower."
Community leaders honored Butz in 2001 by creating the John R. "Jack" Butz Humanitarian Award. He was the first recipient of the yearly honor, which has since been given to two others. A scholarship in Butz's name is also given each year to a high-school senior.
"There were probably 500 or more people who gathered at the Scottish Rite Cathedral to pay respect to him [for the first humanitarian ward]. He was probably downtown New Castle's strongest supporter. He had faith that New Castle would rebound," said W. Robert Jackson, a longtime friend of Butz's and retired Vindicator New Castle reporter.
Butz located his shop on East Washington Street -- New Castle's main business district -- in 1972, where it remains.
He was the fifth generation to operate Butz Flowers, which is the third oldest floral shop in the country and the oldest shop in Pennsylvania, according to Vindicator files.
The business was started in 1851 by Butz's great-grandfather, Paul.
A small greenhouse in the Croton section of the city grew to a booming business, with more than 60,000 plants, when sons William T. and Frank P. joined the business by 1874.
William's son, Paul F., started working in the store at age 13. He continued working there with his son, Jack, until his death in 1968.
Butz is survived by three daughters, Cindy Abel of Northville, Mich.; Karen Panella of New Castle; and Paula Butz of Richmond, Va. His wife, Patricia, died in 1986.