Lil' John Buttera Passed away this morning

RIP Lil' John

May the cackle fest be with you always.



Larry

 

The past few months have just been tragic...in so many ways, for me personally and for others. Seeing this post this morning only re-affirmed that, as we've lost yet another good man...a man who was a hero, a father, an innovator, a craftsman, an inspiration...and a friend. He will be missed by a great many, yet he leaves us with a lifetime filled with many achievments and milestones...and many fond memories, too.

I'm only glad that I got to speak with him a few times and came to know the man I'd worshiped for more than half of my life on a more personal level than just admiring his work in photos. His wit and manner were incredible, and he spoke to you as if he'd known you all your life...on an even level. There was no ego or brag in his words, just pleasant conversation between friends.

He often spoke of his friends being the true measure of his worldly wealth, and he treasured every one of them dearly...you could hear and feel it in the way he spoke.

My deepest condolences to Chris and to Leigh, I know what you are going through right now, believe me (my mom died a couple months ago). There are no words which can express the sorrow involved, yet hopefully some comfort will come to you in the words and wishes of those who knew, admired and cherished your father for all that he did...and for the great man that he was.

Godspeed, John...

 

RIP, The man upstairs has a couple of the best up there to build him the best. R.I.P. Boyd an John

 

Lil John's T was a benchmark car. Incredible detail and engineering. Made the hobby better. He was an inovator and a backyarder that had a talent that shone above the rest. He will be missed. Thanks for all that you passed on to us. Godspeed.

 

R.I.P. Lil' John. You wer one of the greatest

 

I can't add too much to what has already be said about this icon,,,R.I.P,,,Lil' John,,,,,HRP

 

So very true. Rest in Peace John.

 

Legends never die

 

Prayers to the family, and God speed. Thanks for all you have shown us.

 

Jesse wrote me a note telling me that john was gone............

I responded back:

JJ, Sad news indeed .

Appreciate you letting me know.....I think we both should feel lucky to have been friends with him, I know he thought alot of both of us, and when your name came up ........he would always smile and glow like a proud papa " I luv that kid"

You know before he got sick , he called me one Sunday and gave me words of encouragement ,advice, and a true understanding of what I do , why I do it , why I should keep doing it when I needed to hear it, he said things that only someone looking out the same window as I was could, it really was powerful , he talked of mistakes hes made and really helped me make sense of some things in my life few could know. My wife came out to my office and I was all teared up after johns call..........she was tripp'n " You never drop tears for me" LoL I couldn't explain it to her.

I remember John saying " never compromise, make your stuff as nice as you can every time, because there is some kids out there that you inspire"

" Time is short , don't wait to make something tomorrow ,do it today"


I never meet Boyd ,but I know you knew him well, sorry.

Take care brother-CF

 

Godspeed, John.

 

My idol/hero, I could only dream of doing some of the things he did. He made all of us better car builders. He set the bar for us to rise to for a long time to come.

 

Godspeed John.
Not many were as imaginative,creative,and influential,as he was.


I'm glad Ron Covell got to interview him a few years ago.

 

wow what a rough week R.I.P...Lil' John...a true pioneer in the industry

 

RIP John. One cool guy. In the early seventies I sold him my '54 Ford Victoria, with one of those "moonroof" things, maybe called a skyliner, can't remember now. He had big plans for it, but I never heard what he did with it. I knew he was sick, I didn't know it was this close, a sad day.

 

Cole I know he really is proud of your work, he was very touched that your work was in that streetrodder with his car. I have not met you but I will. I am so glad to hear wonderful reports about your Dad. Jesse was also a big inspiration in the last year keeping his spirits up, He really enjoyed the visits and the company of Jesse's wife. The burnouts in front of the house leaving wasn't all bad either, I think Chip had some stripes out there also. A big help also was his live in caregiver Nancy and anyone that met her knows what a blessing she is.

 

Dammit! RIP, Li'l John.

 

RIP Lil John
Your work sure inspired alot of people down here in New Zealand.
I still have unmade model kits too

 

As in the past, my thoughts and prayers are going out to the big guy...this doesn't get easier...

 

One of hot roddings pioneers, very sad news. RIP Lil John.

 

RIP Lil John and God bless his family.

 

Dammit.............that's a frickin shame........Mortality comin' at us pretty fast........but............I have been hearing footsteps for a long time now.......

My sincere condolences to all of John's family and friends.

Mark Artis

 

A true craftsman. RIP.

 

God must be putting together one heck of a Hot ROd Shop by the poeple who have joined him recently.

Lil'John may be gone from us now but he is no longer suffering. We will never forget his contribution to our hobby. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.

 

Another one gone...what a week...

RIP Lil' John

 

R.I.P. Lil' John. =(

 

RIP little John may god be with you

 

One of the greatest talents of our time, he could do it all. He will be missed by all of us. Hope he builds some for the BIG GUY.---------RIP JOHN.---TV

 

Rest in Peace John.

 

Dang it... another one of the greats passes on...

memories:

- Walking through the paddock at Indy and looking at his Indycar. Everyone one of us who turned wrenches for a living couldn't believe the amount of machining, craftsmanship and thought he had put into reworking that Gurney chassis. If he just had a few more dollars via sponsors, more time to make spare parts, more guys to crew -- he could have done some serious butt kicking that year.

- Seeing him ride around Boyd's on that Schwinn with always a cigarette.

- Seeing the '32 Deuce he built that was featured in HotRod. It was impressive and unfortunately never was as fully appreciated as it wasn't publicized much beyond that first appearance.

- Mentioning HotRod magazine, his parts article on making "ignition wire clamps" from aluminum. Went out the next day and bought a bunch of aluminum files and learned how to use them. I still use them today. I can't imagine not having them as part of my arsenal in building cool automobiles and motorcycles. It's one of the first lessons I always pass on to anyone learning to fabricate or make aluminum parts -- and I always give credit from whom it came.

- "I Drove" -- his license plate. As everyone stood around and bs'd or talked about doing something or driving somewhere -- he just did it.

- The billet desk lamp on my desk he made a small run of while at Boyds. I just turned it on in memory.

Lil' John might be gone from us now... but his legend and creativity won't be forgotten forever.