Dr. John Lord Butsch
Dr. John Lord Butsch, M.D., practices general surgery in Buffalo. He is a grandson of John Lord O’Brian, the distinguished lawyer and prominent public servant for whom the School of Law building is named.
About this Interview
Interview Date(s)
July 19, 2013
Occasion
A visit by the O’Brian family to the Charles B. Sears Law Library to view the papers of John Lord O’Brian that are housed in the archives.
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About John Lord Butsch
Dr. John Lord Butsch reminisced about his famous grandfather, who lived a long and productive life from 1874 to 1973. Dr. Butsch was one of 13 grandchildren; there are also 25 great-grandchildren. His grandfather spent most of his time in Washington, D.C. It was not a close family.
O’Brian would read to his grandchildren, sometimes in other languages. He was very personable. He often asked his grandchildren “why?” so his great-grandchildren called him “Why-Why.”
The sons-in-law called him by his formal name. Dr. Butsch’s earliest memory of him was visiting in Colorado Springs, Colo., before being shipped out. “Grandfather was a disciplinarian and the power behind the throne.”
Dr. Butsch chose to practice medicine instead of law. Law was a “nice way to help people.”