Arunas A. Budnikas

Dr. Arunas “Archie” Budnikas MD, also fondly known as Dr. B, passed away on August 11, 2024 at the Albany Medical Center in the midst of loving family and beloved friends. He was born on February 12, 1953 in Amsterdam, NY to Alfonsas and Aleksandra (Uzkuraitis) Budnikas. Despite skipping an early grade, Archie was the 1968 valedictorian at Perth Central School and lettered in three sports: football, basketball and baseball. After receiving his Phi Beta Kappa key at the end of his junior year at Union College, he attended Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, NY. Dr. B chose the Family Practice specialty because he wanted to care for his patients “from cradle to grave” building strong relationships and good health. Through the years he practiced in Syracuse, Walton, Greenwich and Cambridge NY. He also made medical missions to the Dominican Republic and Guatemala. His generosity, kindness and compassion did not end with retirement. In recent years he was a Bennington Project Independence board member, longtime volunteer at HIS Food Pantry and a shopper and companion through the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program. He continued his medical skills in the Vermont Medical Reserve Corps, Vermont Health Connect and most recently at the Bennington Free Clinic. He was also a tremendous source of knowledge and advice for family and friends, always ready to help in any way he could. In addition to his parents, Archie is predeceased by his sister Ilona, brother Edward and beloved wife Christine Kelhi Budnikas. He is survived by his wife Kathy Thompson, son Todd (Lisa Proulx) Budnikas, granddaughters Iry and Piper Budnikas, stepdaughters Katie (Ryan) McGorman and Casey (Brian) Ikeda, step grandchildren Hana and Kai Ikeda, brother Peter (Marcia) Budnikas, sister-in-law Monica Budnikas, brother-in-law Joseph Spada and several nieces and nephews. A funeral mass will be held at Sacred Heart Saint Francis de Sales Church in Bennington on Saturday August 24 at 10am to be followed by a Celebration of Life at the Mount Anthony Country Club from 11:30-1:30pm. Refreshments will be served. Contributions can be made in Archie’s name to HIS Pantry or Bennington Project Independence.