Obituary of Louis Paul Butash II

Louis Paul Butash, (II), known to his many friends as “Sweet Lou”, 59 died peacefully in his sleep in Tucson, Arizona on October 9, 2021. Born December 9, 1961 in Royal Oak, Michigan, Lou was the only child of Louis Paul Butash and Phyllis Marie Blem Butash. With his parents, he moved as a young boy to Tucson, Arizona where he attended Doolen Jr. High and Catalina High School (Class of 1979). As a teen, he worked in his father’s restaurant, The Blue Saguaro. He graduated from the University of Arizona with two degrees, BS in Business Administration in 1984 and MS in Exercise and Sports Sciences in 1994.

During his lifetime, Lou worked for various sports organization in Account Executive/Management positions, including those he had a passion for in baseball: Arizona Fall League Scottsdale, Prince William Cannons (Chicago White Sox), Salt Lake Bees (Anaheim Angels - AAA), Tucson Sidewinders (Arizona Diamondbacks - AAA), and his hometown Detroit Tigers – MLB. He also held media sales positions with Whiteco Outdoor Advertising, Citadel Broadcasting and the University of Arizona (IMG Sports). He took his food and beverage experience to Daglios Sports Bar, Jonathan’s Cork, Kappy’s Bar and Sandwich Place in Tucson and to Bertrand AT, Mr A’s and Aqua Al 2 in San Diego. Lou also volunteered with various non-profit organizations in Tucson including The Cascade Foundation and Salpointe Catholic High School’s Golf Team. Throughout his life, Lou made many friends who will remember his big smile and penchant for having fun.

Lou is survived by his Butash cousins Scot Oliver, Stephen Paul, Carol Ann, Barbara Jean, Mike, Robert, MaryAnn, Denise and John Daniel; and Blem Aunts and Uncles,  Diane, Starlene and Walter; and Blem cousins Lori Starlene Boyer and Lisa Anne Boyer.  He is preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Stephen Charles Butash and Mary Butash, Uncles Mike Butash (Elenenor), Stephen Paul Butash (Constance) and John D. Butash (Dorothy), and Aunt Annie Mae Butash Stuart (Charles Stuart) and cousins Bill, Stephen Paul, Bradley and Gary; and by his maternal grandparents Donald Morris Blem and Dorothy Schwab Blem Eminger and uncle Donald Morris Blem.

 A celebration of Sweet Lou will be held on what would have been his 60th birthday, December 9, 2021 from 4:00 p.m to 7:00 p.m. at Fini’s Landing, 5689 N. Swan Road, Tucson. The celebration will also be accessible through a Facebook Live link available at Friends of Lou Butash on Facebook.