Mansfield Says Goodbye to Longtime Firefighter and Dispatcher Robert "Red" Button

Dads Last Ride 090214 from Robert Scott Button on Vimeo.

Talk to anyone who knew him and they will tell you how much Robert “Red” Button loved Mansfield. They will tell you how he wanted to help others and assist in anyway he could.

At the start of the Sept. 3 meeting of the Mansfield Board of Selectmen, the board, along with Police Chief Ronald Sellon and Fire Chief Neal Boldrighini, remembered Button, who passed away at the age of 72 on Sept. 2.

During his time in Mansfield, Button was a firefighter, a dispatcher, a dispatcher trainer, and the head of Mansfield Civil Defense. He would help turn civil defense into the Mansfield Emergency Management Agency, which Boldrighini called one of the best in the area.

“He did this because it was his duty to do what was right,” Boldrighini, said. “He will be missed for his humor, his kindness, and his thoughtfulness, and general manner.”

Selectmen chairman George Dentino grew up with Button in Walpole and remembered his thoughtfulness during some of the toughest times.

“I was one of the fortunate people to grow up with him in Walpole. As Neal said Red was born to be in the service of people,” Dentino said.

During the Blizzard of ’78, Dentino said he remembered walking around a Walpole filled with snow when all of a sudden, he heard a loud road. Dentino soon realized it was Button on a snow mobile delivering groceries to those who could not get out of their homes. Button kept it up for for a few days.

“That’s the kind of guy you remember,” Dentino said.

Per the Sherman and Jackson Funeral Home website, visiting hours, to which relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend, will be held on Sunday, September 7th from 3:00-6:00 p.m. at the Sherman & Jackson Funeral Home, 55 North Main St., Mansfield

A service in celebration of Red’s life will be held at the conclusion of visiting hours at 6:00 P.M. in the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, Red’s family has requested that donations in his memory be made to the Mansfield Firefighters Local 1820, 10 Plymouth St., Mansfield, MA 02048.

Above is a video created by Red’s son Robert showing Red Button’s final ride home to Mansfield.

Photo Credit - Mansfield Fire Department