...
$rlButtonOrder = fitToColsVSort($numHosts, $numCols);
foreach (0 .. $#nodeList)
{
    my $buttonName = $nodeList[$_] . "Button";
    $$buttonName = $hostSelectFrame->Button(
       ...
       -text => $nodeList[$_],
       ...
       -width => $longestName)->grid(
          -row => $rlButtonOrder->[$_]->[0],
          -column => $rlButtonOrder->[$_]->[1],
          ...
          );
    $$buttonName->configure(
       -command => [\&gotoHost, $nodeList[$_]]);
}
...