Butterfield / 1947
plays to his current philanthropic role orchestrating
the creation of a Bermuda Performing Arts Centre,
the 83-year-old says he has never strayed far from
his passion for the stage.
Richard Darrell Butterfield attended Saltus from
193542 before going to Trinity College School,
ontario. "There I was cast in the leading role in the
school's annual play," he remembers. He never looked
back. In the summer of 1946, he organised, cast
and directed a local play in which he performed the
lead role. Presented at Bermuda's Trinity Hall, it
was the first production ever sponsored by the
Bermuda Musical and Dramatic Society (BMDS)
--and sold out immediately. Dick realised he had
"fallen in love with the theatre."
William Jones Scholarship and obtaining an Honours
BA in Modern Languages. He was very active in
theatre both at boarding school and at university,
performing in plays each year at U of T's Hart
House Theatre, and producing the college play in
1950--attracting sell-out audiences and a profit!
195254, he was the first company manager of the
new National Ballet Company of Canada, taking
the company coast to coast across Canada and the
US. He joined the Stratford Festival in ontario
195455, where he designed a system of box-office
control and accounting that other north American
festivals later adopted. "Then I decided if I was
going to make my living in the business end of the
theatre, I had better learn something about business!
So I became a chartered accountant--and, conse-
quently, spent my life practicing as a CA instead!"
of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of
ontario in 1988 and of Bermuda in 1989. He was
founding president of the Institute of Chartered
Accountants in Bermuda from 197376, and a
member of the Bermuda Monetary Authority's
other board appointments. He retired in 1994 at
age 65. Today, coming full circle, he has returned to
theatrical pursuits, focussing his energy on facilitating
the creation of a Performing Arts Centre for
Bermuda. "This is perhaps exactly the right time to
undertake a process that will help to bring the
community together," he says. "The performing arts
bring people together to share experiences."
economic impact study is done and a location chosen,
the project will go into design and construction.
Jubilee Medal in 1977 (Canada); he earned an
oBE in 1986 for his many philanthropic pursuits
in Bermuda. At Saltus, he was chairman of a
fundraising committee for the School's library
building in 1975, and served as PTA president
from 199293. Married, to Susan, with two sons--
alums Mark (1978) and Richard (2000)--and one
granddaughter, his hobbies include all his favourite
things--music and singing, theatre and the arts.
people
together
to share
experiences'
A