Arthur W. "Butch" Symes Jr.

Arthur W.  Symes, Jr (Butch/Pa), a resident of Melrose, Massachusetts passed away on July 3, 2023, surrounded by his family.

The son of the late Arthur and Julia Symes, Butch was born and raised in Stoneham, Massachusetts.  Butch was an electrician, and his first job was working for Gillette.  He also worked for Symes Associates and independently. Butch was very handy and was the go-to guy. Always willing to help family and friends with any issues they may have, big or small, he was there to help.

In his retirement you were sure to see him at the family hardware store, ACE, on Main Street in Stoneham.  He was an avid photographer who took pictures of the sights he had seen as well as his family.  He loved spending time with his family. Butch just returned from a 6-month trip to Texas, Colorado and New Mexico where he spent quality time with his daughter, son-in-law, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Butch loved to make dollhouses and always gave them away.  There are many children across the United States that have a dollhouse made by Butch. He was also busy volunteering for many charities, including cooking Thanksgiving Day meals for the elderly.  Butch would join his own family Thanksgiving dinner late as he was making sure the elderly that were homebound received their meals.

Butch was a devoted father to his 6 children; his son Robi Symes of New York/Hilton Head and his husband David Luellen, daughter Cheri Sammataro and her husband Paul of Texas, son Joe McCormack and his wife Teri of Chester, NH, daughter Laurie Baires and her husband Armando of Medford, daughter Val Doherty and her husband Patrick of Melrose, and son Eric Symes of Ashburnham.  Brother of Albert Symes and his wife Barbara of North Andover, Danny Symes and his wife Jodi of Amesbury and late Dennis Symes.  Grandchildren, Jessica Symes, Tiffany, Sean and Tanya Sammataro, Patrick, Michelle, Brianna Doherty, Erica and Joey McCormack, Alex and Andrew Baires, Aidan Symes and 5 great grandchildren. He is survived by many nieces and nephews.  

Visitation for relatives and friends will be held at the McDonald-Finnegan Funeral Home, 322 Main Street, Stoneham on Sunday July 9th from 1:00-3:00pm. His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, July 10th at 10:00am at St. Patrick Church, 71 Central St., Stoneham.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Butch Symes may be made to Division of Cardiology, LVAD Clinic at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center by sending a check made payable to Beth Israel Medical Center with “Arthur Symes/Cardiology LVAD” in the memo line. Contributions can be mailed to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Office of Philanthropy, 529 Main Street, 4th Floor, Charlestown, MA 02129.