James Buttonow Of Sag Harbor Dies March 14

James Buttonow, a lifelong resident of Sag Harbor, died at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital on March 14. He was 91.

He was born in Sag Harbor on January 31, 1931, during the Great Depression in a house off Sag Harbor’s Main Street.

He was the son of Joseph Buttonow, a Polish carpenter, and Anna Janesko Buttonow. In 1938, when he was 7, he had to climb over the steeple of the Old Whaler’s Church in order to get home, during the Hurricane of 1938.

In 1965, he began making furniture. He turned old barnwood into sideboards and tables. He also worked as a house painter and calloper and could open a gallon of scallops in an hour. With his brother, Joe, and several other craftsmen, he helped build the large sperm whale for Sag Harbor’s first Whaler’s Festival in 1963. He started carving decoys when he was 9 years old with an uncle, and over the years finely honed his craft.

In 1970, he married his wife, Melanie, and never left her side. He had a profound influence on her, as she did on him. His three great loves were his family, his work and his devoted Llasa Apso mix dog, Holly, who survives him.

In the early 1980s, he carved several decorative birds that remain favorites, including two life-sized Red Tail Hawks and a pair of green-winged teal, which he entered into local competitions, winning many ribbons. He also was the subject of several feature articles in newspapers and magazines, and has a piece displayed in the White House. Buttonow had a style all his own, favoring a lifetime sightings of his eye, rather than strict ornithology.

Buttonow’s legacy lives on in his family and his amazing work.

He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Melanie; two daughters, Tara Brinka of Sag Harbor and Marlena Kappel of Ama, Louisiana; two granddaughters, Jessie Buttonow of upstate New York, and Kristen Bilka of East Patchogue; two great-grandsons, Emryck and Mason Bilka of East Patchogue; and two sons-in-law, Chris Brinka and Todd Kappel; sister JoAnn Buttonow; and brother, Tom Buttonow of Sag Harbor; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Randy and Melanie Staudinger of Cutchogue.

A prayer service was held at Yardley and Pino Funeral Home on March 17 with Father Peter, and burial was at St. Andrew’s Cemetery with prayers by Father Manuel on March 18.