Obituaries
Mike Butler, Man Who Dyed Chicago River, Passes Away
The South Side native was responsible for a city tradition that dates back more than 50 years.
Chicago, IL - The man behind dying the Chicago River green in The Loop for St. Patrick's Day ever year has died.
Mike Butler began the tradition in 1962 and has led the effort to dye the Chicago River ever since. He died Tuesday of pneumonia, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. He had suffered from dementia.
Butler has roots on Chicago's South Side. He grew up in St. Kilian’s parish near 87th and Ashland. Both his parents came to the United States from Ireland.
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He will be remembered on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at Adolf Funeral Home, Ltd., 7000 S. Madison St. in Willowbrook with a progression to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, according to a Sun-Times obituary.
Watch Butler explain how he dyed the river each year:
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