David (Dave) Butler, 81, died suddenly of a dissecting aortic aneurysm on October 1 at his home in Laguna Woods, CA. He was born on January 9, 1944 in Washington, D.C., moving with his parents to California in 1945, where he grew up in Beverly Hills.

Dave was preceded in death by his parents, Myrtis and Charles "Daws" Butler, and his first wife Susan Reddy Butler (they divorced in 1999). He is survived by his second wife, Marjorie Conrad Butler, daughters Annie (Robert) Butler Shirreffs and Molly Butler, brothers Donald Butler, Paul (Celeste) Butler, and Charles Butler, and niece Bernadette Butler.

Dave graduated from Loyola University Los Angeles with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, which he used to get his foot in the door in the advertising world. He started as a junior copywriter at Doyle Dane Bernbach in 1966 and ended his 41-year career as a senior creative director at TBWA/Chiat/Day in 2007. He became a legend in the advertising world, winning many awards, all while mentoring and inspiring young writers, and helping others launch their own careers. Dave was known for being loyal, kind, and gracious in an industry that's often anything but. As one colleague put it, Dave was proof that kindness and genius can co-exist.

In his personal life, Dave was known for his quick wit and natural sense of humor – whether it was a joke he made or sitting at a kid's birthday party wearing a party hat and a green onion sticking out of each ear. He was a wonderful "girl dad" to his two daughters, keeping score at Little Miss softball games, attending dance recitals, and taking them on countless trips to the movies and amusement parks. He encouraged them in all their efforts and took pride in their accomplishments.

He inherited his sense of humor from his father, prolific voice actor Daws Butler (Yogi Bear), and enjoyed regaling others with stories about his father's career.

After Dave retired, he and Margie moved to Austin, Texas, for 10 years for a change of scenery. There, he engaged in several volunteer activities, including at the Austin Zoo where he did everything from helping install air conditioning units to chopping up vegetables for the tortoises. He was especially proud of his volunteer work with Austin Pets Alive!, where he used his creative talents to write charming biographies of adoptable cats for the shelter's website.

Per his wishes, there will be no funeral service, but a celebration of life is being planned for early December and will be shared through social media.

Dave turned to veganism the last few years of his life, so, if desired, donations can be made in his name to Farm Sanctuary .