Scott Andrew Butki

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the untimely passing of Scott Andrew Butki, who departed this life on December 27, 2024, at the age of 56. Scott is survived by his mother, Joanne Butki; his brother, Jay Butki (wife Ju Kyung Butki); and his sister, Ellen Butki; his nieces, Natalia and Marina; his nephews, Arne and Jonno, and an extended family of friends and colleagues who will forever cherish his memory. He was preceded in death by his father, Arnold Butki, in 1999. Scott grew up in Riverside, California, where he graduated from Riverside Poly High School. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications with a Journalism emphasis from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and later pursued a Master of Arts in Teaching at Frostburg State University in Maryland. Scott began his professional journey in journalism, a career that allowed him to live in multiple states; California, Arizona, Arkansas, Maryland, Texas, and work for various organizations. His passion for storytelling was deeply rooted in his desire to inspire empathy and combat apathy among readers. He also sought to expose wrongdoing in local government and businesses. After more than a decade in journalism, Scott transitioned into education, focusing on special education to support marginalized communities. For over ten years, he dedicated himself to mental health work, often assisting teenagers with autism. Among his most cherished roles was teaching a Harry Potter-themed class at the University of Texas for adults with special needs. Scott’s commitment to social justice was unwavering. Inspired by figures such as Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr., he sought to live a life of non-violent activism. Through his involvement with the Unitarian Universalist church in both Hagerstown, MD, and Austin, TX, Scott worked on anti-racism education initiatives and partnered with local groups to promote equity and understanding. A voracious reader, Scott set an ambitious personal goal of annually reading 50 books and interviewing 25 authors, a goal he met for many years. He also found joy in walking and running, playing backgammon, indulging in rocky road ice cream, listening to music, connecting with friends on social media, and tirelessly working to fight hate, not necessarily in that particular order. Everyone will miss his sense of humor and his weekly online questions on social media, such as ”What are you grateful for?” and “What made you smile today?”. Scott’s life was defined by compassion, advocacy, and an enduring love for reading and learning. May his legacy continue to inspire all who knew him. He will be missed dearly but forever held in our hearts. A celebration of Scott's life will be held on Saturday, January 11 at 3:00 pm at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Austin located at 4700 Grover St., Austin, TX 78756. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider making a donation to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) https://www.nami.org/About-NAMI/Donate-to-NAMI), the Austin Justice Coalition https://austinjustice.org/memberships, or the Austin Public Library https://library.austintexas.gov/library/document/donation_dedication2016.pdf, which are all organizations close to Scott's heart.

Scott Andrew Butki

October 3, 1968 - December 27, 2024