Elizabeth City historian Tom Butchko dies at age 56

By Jeff Hampton
The Virginian-Pilot
© November 24, 2009

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C.

Local historian and museum curator Tom Butchko of Elizabeth City died Saturday at age 56 after a long illness.

Butchko was the author of "On the Shores of the Pasquotank," a work on the architectural history of Elizabeth City that became a reference for the local historic district, the media and others seeking detail on the many old homes here.

Butchko wrote other books, including architectural histories of Perquimans and Gates counties.

Butchko was hired as the first full-time curator of the Museum of the Albemarle in 2001, four years before the new 50,000-square-foot museum opened on the Elizabeth City waterfront. The Museum of the Albemarle had operated out of a remodeled highway patrol building since 1967.

"He is going to be so hard to replace," said Don Pendergraft, exhibit designer for the m useum. "He had one of the better memories of anybody I've ever met for historical detail."

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the First United Methodist Church in Elizabeth City.

Jeff Hampton, (252) 338-0159, jeff.hampton@pilotonline.com

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Tom

Submitted by Chris33 on Tue, 11/24/2009 at 1:27 am.

I went to college with Tom, but lost track of him afterwards. He was very intelligent and had a great sense of humor. We laughed a lot in school. God bless him.

Tom Butchko

Submitted by thomaslongjr on Mon, 11/23/2009 at 3:37 pm.

Tom touched many of us with his grace, humor, love, and fidelity. His care of his partner and my friend Jim Floyd during Jim's long illness was a model of faithful love. Tom remained close with Jim's mother and Jim's friends had become his. I was priviledged to be present at the occasion when he and Gerard exchanged vows; it was also a grace-filled relationship. My condolences to Gerry and to Jim's family.