Father Butch Whacker
Transitioned 11.01.2008
to the Nuns of the Above
Fr. Butch Whacker's Memorial Scholarship
Father Butch Whacker joined the Russian River Sisters later in life, after retiring from a military career as a contractor member of the US Navy. As a member of the Sisters, Fr. Butch was alarmed by the growing numbers of community members who were not being reached by safer sex messages. He was particularly concerned about the rising HIV/AIDS rates among migrant farm workers and young straight adults.
Fr. Butch took over our safer sex awareness program and expanded it to include outreach towards these new sources of concern. He worked tirelessly to see that condoms and safer sex info were available in a non-judgmental manner. He said all the years of work would be worth it if he could help prevent just one person from becoming infected with HIV/AIDS.
The Russian River Sisters' Safer Sex Ministry is now named in his honor.
He will forever live on in the hearts and minds of the international sisterhood.