Kenneth A. Butterworth

Kenneth A. Butterworth, 76, of Westbrook passed away peacefully with his beloved wife at his side on Tuesday, October 8th 2024. He was born January 7, 1948, in Beverly, Massachusetts to the late Kenneth R. Butterworth and Hazel Carr Butterworth. He grew up in Wenham, Massachusetts. Ken went to college in Florida earning a bachelors degree in Electronic Data Processing and then returned to Massachusetts to begin his decades long career in Information Technology (IT). He relocated to Connecticut in 1978 to work for Emhart Corporation where several years later he met the love of his life, Jane. Ken and Jane married in 1991. They initially lived in Middletown and then relocated to Westbrook in 1996. Ken worked for several Fortune 500 companies in a variety of strategic IT positions both in Massachusetts and Connecticut; he served as the Chief Information Officer for the Rhode Island Hospital System (now Lifespan), was a Project Manager for Analytics in Madison, CT which was later acquired by SAP, and his final role as the IT Director for the Town of Westbrook.

Ken was a member of the First Congregational Church of Westbrook where he sang in the choir and helped coordinate a new sound system, WiFi connectivity and the ability for the parishioners to enjoy church remotely during COVID. Ken was the Director of the Board for VSCTV and was passionate about public access programming and the services the Westbrook studio could provide to so many towns in the region. Ken served as a volunteer for Westbrook Emergency Management and on the local Cable Advisory Committee. Ken was a member of the Westbrook Elks Lodge. For many years Ken and Jane volunteered their time at the Westbrook rest stop for the Closer to Free ride.

Ken had many hobbies that brought him great joy. He loved old cars (especially Corvairs), woodworking, golf and boating just to name a few. He could fix or build just about anything and was always quick to suggest an upgrade or project to make things better for those around him. He was an avid Boston sports fan and had the opportunity to see many of his favorite teams in person. He loved to travel. He and Jane embarked on over 10 cruises together. He spent many summers vacationing in Maine enjoying time on Long Lake, Brandy Pond and Sebago Lake as well as the surrounding “Down East” area. He loved hosting friends and family at the Butterworth Bash parties in Westbrook and watching his grandchildren enjoy the pool and the variety of pool toys Ken would buy every year. More recently Ken spent time at the summer home that he and Jane have on Gardner Lake in Salem, CT.

Ken is survived by his wife Jane Spanilo Butterworth of Westbrook, CT. His pride and joy were his three children, Courtney Beyer and her husband Jeremy of Torrington, CT, Gregory Butterworth and his wife Katherine of Salem, CT and Jonathan Butterworth and his partner Nicholas Swing of Queens, NY and his grandchildren Kyra, Grayson, Brienne, Lucas and Hazel; his niece Brittany Butterworth and her husband Matt from Massachusetts.

The family is incredibly grateful to CT Hospice in Branford for their extraordinary care and peaceful surroundings during his final days. Visiting hours will be Thursday October 17th from 4-6pm at Robinson, Wright & Weymer Funeral Home, 34 Main Street in Centerbrook, CT. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday October 19th at the First Congregational Church, 1166 Boston Post Rd, Westbrook, CT. Burial at Cypress Cemetery in Westbrook will be held privately at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to CT Hospice, 100 Double Beach Rd, Branford, CT 06405 or Smilow Cancer Hospital in New Haven, CT.