Can't believe it has been a year. We miss you Butch in Heaven. So many good memories.  Snookie was here with us last weekend in Hilton Head Island. You share the same Birthdays.

Today is your birthday 10/20 it is NO longer relevant to anyone, I am glad you are gone.  You can’t hurt your family anymore.  I wish Jake was still here to be a family with me and Chris.

You are the evil that has been banished from earth, thank you God

I miss you Uncle Butch.  I just learned that you passed away.  I’m so sad.  But I know that you’re looking after me now and the rest of us.  You were such a giving, loving, kind and an amazing man.  May your soul Rest In Peace.  I love you. 

Love,
Veronica and Mom (Lovella)

As your Long Time Girlfriend,  
I can't even begin to explain how hard life has been without you here.  I've never experienced a pain quite this deep before & I'm not quite sure how to move on without you yet.  (That would be like accepting you're gone & I'm not ready to do that either.) One thing I DO know,  is that you lived these last few years to the fullest, & I know that... because I was right there with you. You lived unapologetically & never cared what anybody else thought about us!! Thank You for just leaving me, better than you found me. I'll miss you Everyday!! My Ride Or Die!! 😘🫶😇

sally Lorenzo, Norm Kent and Butch, RIP to all 3...

I will be forever thankful for having known and worked for Butch for 10 years. He took a chance on me and I did my best to prove his risk-taking worthy. He always treated me and everyone with respect and his brand of humor was always bubbling near the surface. he knew what he wanted from you and knew how to prove to you, you knew it was within you. 
        I will always consider him a friend, deeply missed but not far from my thoughts. 
       Thanks to Chris and his family for sharing Butch with me and the entire ft lauderdale community.
                   Jim Palmer, Columbus, Ohio

Today Chris arranged your last hooray!  He gave you your Celebration of Life and shared it with many well wishers and people who have so many fond memories of you touching their lives.  The party is over and it’s time to rest,.  SNORE as loud as you want you won’t disturb anyone.  Rose, Chris and Jake are your legacy, we miss you.  Hearts R Together. RIP

So sorry to hear about the passing of Butch Sampson, had many many good memories at the flow and other places. Had the privilege of taking care of his audio and video systems not only at the restaurants but also at his home. May God give comfort and peace at this time to the family and loved ones. 

I will so miss Butch,  such a wonderful man. I enjoyed taking care of him. We had some good talks and laughs. May he rest in peace. 


Dear Butch, I am so grateful to have crossed paths with you.  As your nurse I was able to see you on your good days and not so good days, but I always admired your resilience,  your love of life and the way you never had a pity party. You were such a wonderful person, thank you for always making me feel welcome at the restaurant , inviting me to sit next to you at your table no matter who was there. Above all I am so thankful that you would call me when you needed someone to pray for you. I was delighted when you started going to Mass on Sundays and  reminded me that I had turned you into a Saint. I didn't know that when I saw you  last year would be the last time, but without fail you asked me to pray for you. I  put my hand on your head in the restaurant and prayed for you. The memory lingers in my mind. May your soul find eternal rest Butch. I will miss you. 

Butch was a great friend to my father, Harold, for many years. I will always remember Butch’s authentic kindness and playful sense of humor. Though I miss them both terribly, I am comforted knowing that they have reunited and are probably up to their old mischief again :) 

The Samp Family thanks all of you for your kind condolences and memories.  We were all blessed with the friendship of Butch, as a husband, father, grandfather, uncle, brother.

Rose (Samp)
wife of 25 years

Dear Samp Family,

Butch Samp was a lovely man and made Las Olas Blvd. what it is today! I remember going there every Sunday with my friends for breakfast. The food is always delicious, the employees were always attentive and the establishment was always clean,  friendly and welcoming to everyone. 

Thank you Mr. Samp for you contributions to Fort Lauderdale. 

All my love and friendship,

Mr. Patrick Mastice
The Butler's Boutique
Fort Lauderdale Resident Since: 1992

A great sadness fills our hearts, but also a wonderful feeling for having know Butch since he bought the FLO so many years ago. We have such great memories. Monte did a trade off with Butch, braces for lunches. Every day he  walked to the FLO from his office to chat with Butch and have lunch. There was one time that we were all at Dr. George Button's during the Holidays, and George fired his shotgun. Shrapnel peppered his face and Monte sat there picking pieces out of his forehead while Butch told jokes. Butch and Rose fell in love with our dog, so they bought a Wheaten Terrier also.  Butch loved life, and made everyone around him feel his great positive energy. We shared many laughs and raised many glasses together. You will me missed, but you live on in our hearts dear Butch!!

.... March '19 ... party for Martina/waitress...

From March '19 .. party he through for waitress Martina on her citizenship and moving on....

I hadn't been to the Floridian since the Covid started .  Fortunately I went about a month ago with a friend and we ran into Butch on the sidewalk out back and we had a nice conversation with him.. glad for that.  sorry to see him go ...

Butch  , a landmark on las olas -I  knew The Floridian since I was a kid - was honored to be the house artist for his establishment- he became family , he and the the Floridian very close to my heart - rest in paradise , I know you will !!! 

Dearest Butch,
I am so grateful that you invited me into your life.  Thank you for Chris, Jake, and Dodd.  It was my home away from home.  You are a rock star!!  The Flo, Sunrise Key, The Yes Dear, Fisher Island, and Rolling Stones.  You can sleep on my couch anytime.  Love you forever…. Sonya Gomez

August 24, 1992.  My wife Gale and I flew in from Albany, NY at around 8;30PM.  It was the day Hurricane Andrew hit South Florida.  The Fort Lauderdale Police had closed SE 17th Street bridge so we were tying to get to our house by crossing the Las Olas bridge.  As we passed Paesanos, we noticed candlelight in the windows, and stopped in.  Mario Spinaci and Butch were holding court. Butch had brought over a ton of frozen food and Mario emptied his freezers as well. A group of thirty or forty close friends sat there until something like 3 AM, eating everything those guys produced from the kitchen. (and drinking a lot of Mario's wine).  It was the first time we had ever spent time with Butch, and it was a total blast.  He spent the evening regaling us with story after story.  He was a great man and a great friend to Fort Lauderdale. He will be missed.  John Payne

Butch, Chris…and the entire Samp family.  It was an honor to know Butch and to be his friend.  I will never forget his many kindnesses and huge, quiet contributions to our community.  Butch’s wit and wisdom has defined the Floridian and made it a very special place.  We will continue to patronize it in Butch’s honor.  May God bless Butch and recognize that heaven will never be the same as he has now arrived.  With love, anppreciation and warm thoughts for my friend.  Mike Maroone

Two of the best gifts God gave to Butch

HEARTS R TOGETHER

Two of the best gifts God gave to Butch

HEARTS ARE TOGETHER

It was a pleasure knowing Butch, and he will truly be missed. I enjoyed listening to him speak about his life and his many funny stories. It made the meals interesting and enjoyable here at the Floridian. His staff always looked out for him, and Butch also looked out for them too. God bless Butch.

Butch was a wonderful and kind person. He loved life and enjoyed it to the fullest.  Sleep in peace. 

No words can express how sorry I am for your loss. Uncle Butch was and always will be one of a kind. His heart, joy and love for life was an abundance for all who knew him. He was a blessing in our  lives and will be missed!
Love, Prayers, Hope and Guidance!
GBWY,
Jonelle Andre

So terribly sad,  such a keeper,  I will truly miss him. I enjoyed taking care of him,  the laughs,  his adventures and stories. 
Rip Butch 
Sincerely ,
Linda Sharp 

Butch you  are with my SCHMOOKY give him a hug from me.   You and Jake are now Chris’s Guardian Angels  keep a protective watch.  What a ride we had for 25 years many good memories.  God put us together for a reason ask him when you see him..  Grandsons Dylon and Darrion are amazing young men, you gave them both the best of being a Grandpa.  You have reached your final destination, rest well.

Rose 

Our most sincere condolences to the Samp family. We ate regularly at The Floridian in the 1980s and always enjoyed a chat and a few jokes with Butch. He always had a smile and was full of good cheer. So sorry to hear the sad news. 
James and Jan Suglio
Fort Lauderdale 

I met Butch when my office inaugurated its headquarters on East Broward Boulevard in 1981, and I was also lucky to live practically next door at 217 SE 16th, The Floridian became my dining room, I had breakfast there (and often lunch) every day for at least 20 years; back in those days, we just signed our checks and got a monthly bill. We were all young, Chris was an adorable baby boy, and going to The Flo after an early  morning run was my reward for getting up so early. Butch was ALWAYS  there, always, smiling, kidding around, but also being serious and protective; talking to him, was such a good way to start my day. To this day, when my family visits from Honduras or Europe, one of the items on their agenda is going to The Flo and they ask about Butch.

And through the years, I knew I could come to Butch and I would always feel at home with him; I knew I could come to The Flo and I would instantly feel welcomed; all the familiar faces of the people who have worked there for generations (including Chris), and would always act like they had seen you just yesterday.  

The Floridian is and has always been a magical place, but it would have been just another diner without Butch’s benign presence. Butch’s extraordinary work ethic, kindness, passion and devotion permeated every corner of The Flo and kept pulling you back, over and over. Butch made an incredibly difficult profession, look easy; he brilliantly crafted, produced, choreographed and preserved The Flo, a local institution. The magic at The Flo was not accidental, Butch made it happen.

So much to say after over four decades … rest in peace friend, you are free now, in a perfect place where there is no pain nor sorrow, you are now one with the light. Chris will be comforted knowing that all who knew you, loved and admired you. For me, you are and will always be, my gentle giant and friend. 


Butch
We loved your sense of humor!
You will be missed. xoxo


RIP Butch. We will never forget your generosity. When hurricane Irma hit in 2017, we lost power in our house.. Butch invited us to stay on his boat (Lady Anne) for several days until we got power back. He turned what would have been a terrible situation into a mini vacation.  Thanks to Butch and his son Chris for your generosity. I also thought I knew everything I needed to know about politics…..until I talked politics with Butch.  Great insight and humor. And a great Monte Cristo at the Flo.  You will be missed. 

Kevin and Kelli Walsh

I am deeply sadden to hear of Butch Samp transitioning. He was a real gentleman and genuinely a great man to know. I live in Chicago and his nephew in Chicago told me about him when he owned Ernie's but I really got to know him as owner of the Floridian Restaurant. My visits to Ft. Lauderdale always included seeing Butch for breakfast at the long table. He was a sincere and down right good man that treated me like royalty each time I would see him. I will cherish the wonderful moments that I had with Butch at the Floridian. With my deepest condolences my heart goes out to the family.
Jim Dallas ll

Thank you, dear Butch, for giving me the opportunity to sing on the Flo's corner every Saturday morning.  I will miss your broad smile as I greeted you before each show.  I commented one morning recently as you sat at the head of your table at the Flo that there were many empty seats at the table.   You chuckled and said that you needed new friends...that yours were dying off.  Well, now there will always be a void in your seat.  

To his family, friends and many employees, we all loved him for such different reasons.  My deepest sympathy.
GG the Singer 

One of A Kind.
A Showman Extraordinaire.
Clever.
Quick. 
Funny.
Caustic.
Gentle.
Kind. 
Giving.
A true Local Icon.
Being allowed the privilege to sit with others at 'Butch's Table' over the decades and be 'thoroughly roasted' by him was a Sincere Honor.
And always Fun. 
A sad day for all of us who knew and loved him.
He will be greatly missed. 
He is irreplaceable. 
Thanks for the memories, Butch!
My heartfelt condolences to all. 

I have been a patron at the Floridian for many years. Butch and "The Flo" have been an institution in Fort Lauderdale for what seems like forever.  Butch also ran Tina's Spaghetti House and other places. He will be missed. I recall after a hurricane about 20 years ago the line for the Flo was around the block. Butch saw me waiting in the line and said, you're a regular, come on in. My friend and I were seated immediately. A real home town place.

I am so sorry to hear of Butch’s passing, but I will never forget his kindness, his amazing personality, but most of all his sense of humor. I  handled many  closings with Butch, working as Jim Case’s paralegal. I remember he always called Jim, “Jimmy”. His humor prevailed throughout the entire transaction, which made his deals, some of the best and memorable I ever worked on. Lots of laughs! Rest in Peace, Butch. I know that Jimmy was waiting for you up there with open arms. You will be missed, but never forgotten. 🌹♥️🌹♥️🙏

When I moved to las olas in 2012, the first place I ate was the Floridian.  I became a regular shortly after, eating breakfast and dinner there almost every day for 5 years. I’ll always remember the weekend mornings sitting at the long table with Butch. Even when the restaurant was packed he always made sure to find me a seat near him.  I moved out of town a couple of years ago and hadn’t been back to the Flo until Easter weekend. I was fortunate to be able to see Butch that one last time. He was a great guy and he will be missed by so many. 

I’m so sad to hear of Butch’s passing. I worked at the Flo for 3 years in the early 2000’s while in college & loved everything & everyone about that place. My favorite shift was Sunday mornings because I knew I’d see Butch before I left. Sending my love & condolences 💐 

I have known Butch over 40 years and I have to say he was a wonderful kind man that always had a nice word to say One of the things I’ll miss most is walking into the Floridian sitting at the head of the table holding court we have lost a lot of good friends over the past years and I’m sure they are waiting for him to take his seat at the head of the table you will be missed my friend RIP. Bruce Ross 

Always a wonderful and generous guy. Rest in peace 
Paul Kiley
FLPD ret

SUCH A GREAT MAN  I WILL NEVER FORGET OUR TALKS WHEN I VISITED HIM IN FORT LAUDERDALE

AVIS DE DÉCÈS

Frank "Butch" Samp

20 octobre 1947 – 24 avril 2023

Kraeer-Fairchild Funeral Home and Cremation Center

Montrez votre soutien

Envoyez Vos
Condoléances

Partager
L'avis De Décès

Obtenir les mises à jour

Prestations de Service