Clarence R. Bacher

Family and friends gathered this week to mourn the death of a Butler man who they say was one-of-a-kind in business — and kindness.

Clarence R. Bacher, who founded Butler Ambulance Service in 1967, died Oct. 24. The ambulance service was only the tip of Bacher's iceberg of local businesses.

“He was never satisfied with sitting down,” Rob Bacher, his son, said. “He always had to be doing something.”

Clarence Bacher served in the U.S. Navy Air Corps as an air traffic controller during World War II. He then attended Robert Morris School of Business, where he earned a degree in accounting.

Rob Bacher said his father loved the field of accounting, which led him to open his own firm, Bacher and Associates Accounting, which has stayed in the family.

Clarence Bacher's son Denny Bacher said his father was the accountant for the previous owner of the ambulance service. When he heard it was for sale, he bought it.

“He figured it to be a good business investment,” Denny Bacher said. “I don't think he envisioned it to be the way it is today.”

Clarence Bacher grew the company from two ambulances to 11 today.

A full story appears in the Butler Eagle.