August 25, 1922 – May 23, 2009
James Butterfield, Master Mariner, slipped his cable and set sail from Victoria on Swiftsure Day, Saturday May 23, after a brief bout with cancer. He leaves his beloved wife Sybil in the 60th year of their marriage; sons Christopher (Merrie-Ellen), Philip (Tracy), Peter (Sarah), Benjamin (Anne); grandchildren Marco, Sarah, Oonagh, Rosanna, Claire, Harry, Julian, Felix, Robin and Marijn; brothers Philip (Jenifer), Aidan (Aileen), John Sebastian (Mary). He was predeceased by an infant daughter, Robin (1951), and daughter Joy (Stefano) in 2006.
James was born in Reno, Nevada on August 25, 1922, the first son of James Butterfield, of Vancouver, and Virginia (Tener), of Wheeling, West Virginia. He grew up in Vancouver and in Summerland, BC. He attended the Duncan Grammar School, and in 1936 went to Liverpool (UK) to train for three years as a cadet in the Merchant Navy training ship HMS Conway. On leaving the Conway he joined the Canadian Pacific Steamships – RMS Empress of Russia – and for two years sailed to the Far East from Vancouver. In 1942 he was Deck Officer in three Foreign Going merchant ships, the last of which SS Jasper Park was torpedoed and sunk in the Indian Ocean. He spent the next two years as Navigating Officer (RCN(R)) in HMCS North Bay on convoy escort duties in the North Atlantic. In 1945, he attended Trinity College, University of Toronto, where he met and fell in love with Sybil Agnew. They both graduated with Bachelor of Arts degrees in 1948, and James then returned to the Navy. After being commissioned as a Lieutenant in the RCN, he married Sybil in Kingston, Ontario in April, 1950. James served in Vancouver, Halifax, St. Jean, Halifax again, and Victoria; his last naval posting was as skipper of the training ketch HMCS Oriole. After retiring from the Navy in 1968, James served briefly in the Canadian Hydrographic Service, and then joined BC Ferries as Chief Officer, Master and then Senior Master. His last command was M/V Queen of the North, from which he retired in 1986. For some years afterwards he acted as Master of M/V Charlotte Princess for the summer, taking her on positioning cruises to the Queen Charlotte Islands; in this way he passed on his profound knowledge of the coast he loved to a younger generation.
James loved the sea and ships, books, poetry, music, dancing and friendship. He will be warmly remembered by his shipmates in the Company of Master Mariners; The Conway Association; The Thermopylae Club; The Naval Officers Association of Vancouver Island and by many friends up and down the West Coast, and around the world. He was contented and true-blue. His enthusiasm, love of life, and of people will forever be an inspiration to those who were fortunate to have known him. The family would like to thank Dr Cox, the staff at Victoria Hospice and Beacon Services for their care. A memorial service will be held at Christ Church Cathedral, Victoria, on Saturday, June 13 at 11 am. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in his memory to the Mission to Seafarers, 401 East Waterfront Rd., Vancouver, BC, V6A 4G9
61 Responses
Dear Sibyl:
Imagine my surprise when I got off the plane from Europe on Friday and read about Jim’s passing in the Globe & Mail. I was very sad to have the news, having enjoyed his humour and camaraderie over the years. Please accept my condolences and pass them along to the boys.
With best wishes, Ron Rompkey
My wife (Lynn) and I were saddened to learn of Jims passing. It was 29 years ago today that the Queen of the North left Tsawwassen Terminal bound for Prince Rupert. This was the inaugural trip for the ship on the northern run. Jim was the Captain and I was the Chief Engineer. I worked with Jim for a number of years, a finer Captain and person you could not find. Please accept our condolences, we will miss him very much.
Bob Douglas
Captain Butterfield was without any doubt , our Most favourite Master ..
And our heartfelt condolences in this difficult time.
Our Prayers are with you..
Victoria will never be the same. What a remarkable and unique spirit he was, with his sharp but ever so friendly eyes, his warm and vivid way of speaking, and his broad interest in so many aspects of life. I am deeply saddened by this news, and will miss him ever so much.
Dear Sybil,
I send my deepest sympathy to you and your family.
James and my husband, James, trained on the HMS Conway at the same time. What stories they had to tell!
I remember them meeting again when they both worked as captains on the B.C. Ferries.
It was so kind of James to attend my husbands’ funeral in 1979.
My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Frances Montgomery
Sybil and family,
We are saddened to see that James has sailed away. Our thoughts are with you.
Dear Sybil:
Our thoughts are with you all at this sad time – thinking of you and yours,
Affectionately,
Ian and Margot
Dear Sybil,
I was so sorry to hear of James’ death and send my
heartfelt sympathy. I remember with so much pleasure times
in Kingston and Montreal and Kingston again.
My condolences to you and your family,
With fond regards,
Lorna
With happy memories of the great pleasure young Jim’s appearances always brought his cousins, and commiseration for the great sorrow of his family at this time.
Norma Tener
I have very fond memories of my first meeting with James when the Butterfields warmly invited me to join them for my first Christmas in Canada as a new immigrant (1972). Many a night we stayed up until the wee hours while one or other of the menfolk played and sang – with James doing a wonderful Noel Coward impersonation. My family and Sybil’s have been linked for 3 generations (in Kingston, Cambridge UK, and Montreal) and I remember with affection Kim, Tig and Peter. On behalf of my family, I send condolences to you all.