Michael Butler, the son of Oak Brook founder Paul Butler, and who himself was very involved with polo in the village, died Monday Nov. 7 in Los Angeles at age 95, according to information from the Oak Brook Polo Club.
Butler’s interest in athletics led him to an active participation in many sports, according to the Polo Club. He served in many positions including chairman of the U.S. Equestrian Trials Committee, vice commodore of the Talisman Corinthian Yacht Club, governor for the United States Polo Association, chairman of the Oak Brook Polo Club and captain of the Oak Brook Polo team.
Butler managed the Oak Brook Polo Club for many years and with his sister, Jorie, and invited King Charles III — then Prince Charles — to Oak Brook to play in 1986.
Butler played polo in many countries, primarily in the U.S., United Kingdom, Jamaica and Mexico. He was a member of Guards Polo Club in the UK, the All-Ireland Polo Club, National Steeplechase & Hunt, United States Polo Association and Hawaii Polo Club, according to the Oak Brook Polo Club.
Former Oak Brook Village President Karen Bushy said Butler was “quick with a laugh” and “generous to a fault.”
“He will be will be missed by many,” Bushy said. “He was a good friend over many, many years. He loved Oak Brook and has been extremely generous to the Oak Brook Historical Society, providing a stunning array of family memorabilia and artifacts from both his father and his grandfather.”
While known well locally for his involvement in polo and being the son of Paul Butler, Michael Butler made an even bigger name for himself in the world as a producer, best known as the person who brought the play, “Hair,” from the Shakespeare Free Theatre to Broadway, according to information from Butler’s website.
His involvement with theater also includes work on “Lenny,” “The Golden Apple,” “West Side Story,” “Cantonsville 9? and Reggae on Broadway. Butler was the producer of the movies “You Are What You Eat” and “Hair” and to date had done 31 productions of “Hair,” according to his website.
Bushy said Butler’s worldwide fame and interesting friends brought great excitement to Oak Brook.
“The array of friends we would see poolside at the Bath & Tennis Club, and the delight he took in coming to the swim team banquet to hand out the Paul Butler Award for Sportsmanship to a young swimmer,” she said.
Butler is survived by his son Adam Butler, Adam’s wife Michelle, and his grandson Liam. He also is survived by his sister Jorie Butler Kent and her daughter, Reute Butler, as well as his half sister, Wendy Dunaway, and her two daughters, Missy West and Jorie Waterman, according to information from the Oak Brook Polo Club.
Chuck Fieldman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
