Mitchell S. Barutha

Mitchell Barutha, 71, of Mt. Lebanon, passed away peacefully surrounded by his devoted family, on Wednesday, September 11, 2024. He was the beloved husband of 37 years to Linda Addlespurger, and the proud father of Kate Barutha (Kyle Vegter). He will be deeply missed by his sister, Michelle Lesch (Dean), and joins his late siblings, Jerry Barutha and Nadine Bonner. Mitchell was the cherished son of the late Harry J. and Agryphine (Wojtasiak) Barutha. He is also survived by many loving nieces, nephews, and dear friends. 

Born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Mitchell joined the Marines, where he served aboard a Navy Medical Corps ship in Vietnam, and later at Camp Lejeune. During his time in the military, he also played minor league baseball in North Carolina. His service concluded in Boston at a Navy shipyard, after which he attended Emerson College. It was in Boston that Mitchell found his lifelong passion for photography. 

Mitchell met his wife, Linda, through mutual friends on a camping trip at Mooselookmeguntic Lake. They later moved to New York City, where Mitchell worked closely with his mentor, photographer Dan Weeks, on the landmark project “Street View 1982,” documenting the evolving streets of New York during a transformative time. His love for photography grew as he developed a career in still life photography, before the couple eventually settled in Pittsburgh in 1988.

Mitchell was known for his big heart, deeply devoted to both his family and his work. As a location scout and manager for film, television, and commercials in Pittsburgh, he took pride in discovering the perfect spots- always mindful of making the experience special for both the production teams and and the people whose homes and businesses were being taken over by film crews. 

In 2021, amid the pandemic, Mitchell was blessed with the gift of a heart transplant. The years that followed were precious, and he approached each day with gratitude, savoring time spent with family, friends, and the pursuits that brought him joy. His passions extended beyond his profession to include art, architecture, photography, and cheering for the Steelers—though he often joked about the stress of the last two minutes of their games. He found peace in his garden, particularly admiring the cypress tree in his yard, and enjoyed the ongoing work on their century-old home. Mitchell was also a steadfast supporter of Linda's work at Hope Academy of Music and the Arts, where he contributed as a photographer, set builder, and volunteer driver, always cheering on the students and teaching artists. 

Please join us for a Celebration of his Life, on Sunday September 22, 4pm, at East Liberty Presbyterian Church, 116 S. Highland Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15206. Friends and family are encouraged to bring cookies and stories to share as we send Mitchell off on what can only be described as his greatest location scouting adventure yet.

If you’re unable to attend in person, please email Kate.barutha@gmail.com for a link to the livestream of the service. Burial will be private to the family. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mitchell’s memory to Tree Pittsburgh, 32 62nd Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15201, or visit http://www.treepittsburgh.org. 

Arrangements entrusted to WILLIAM SLATER II FUNERAL SERVICE, Scott Twp., 412-563-2800.

www.slaterfuneral.com