����ֱ��

Longtime ����ֱ�� Boulder faculty member, politician and former University of ����ֱ�� President John Buechner passed away Saturday. He was 82 years old.

Former faculty member and ����ֱ�� president John Buechner.

Buechner served more than 34 years in the University of ����ֱ�� system, with many of those years in Boulder.

He was a tenured faculty member in Political Science, with renowned expertise in municipal government and local politics.
In the 1960s and ‘70s, Buechner served Boulder as a member of city council, as mayor and as a member of the ����ֱ�� House of Representatives. He also served a stint as a Lafayette councilman, starting in 2010.

“John Buechner served this campus, the Boulder community and the state of ����ֱ�� for nearly four decades,” said Chancellor Philip P. DiStefano. “He was a nationally recognized expert on municipal government who, as a political scientist, elected representative and a university leader, understood the vital role higher education plays in creating a civically engaged community. His charm, humor and good will were appreciated by friends and colleagues throughout the Boulder area, and he will be greatly missed.” 

Buechner’s family released a statement, saying:

“John had a great affinity for the University of ����ֱ��. He spent over 50 years being associated with ����ֱ�� in a variety of roles including professor, administrator, chancellor, president and president emeritus. John spent virtually his entire professional career in the ����ֱ�� system. He took great pride in being associated with ����ֱ�� and worked untiringly in hopes of having a positive impact with students, staff, faculty and friends of the university. He believed that by providing an atmosphere and attitude of excellence, the university could provide not only a valuable education, but experiences and relationships to last a lifetime. To John, being a ����ֱ�� Buff was a lifetime distinction which he proudly displayed.”

Buechner served as the University of ����ֱ��’s 18th president from 1995 to 2000. Prior to that, he spent seven years as chancellor of ����ֱ�� Denver.

"John Buechner was a long-time friend who made a significant impact on the University of ����ֱ��, our communities and our state,” current ����ֱ�� President Bruce D. Benson said. “He had an abiding love for ����ֱ�� and made his mark on the university in many ways—as ����ֱ�� president, ����ֱ�� Denver chancellor and faculty member, and ����ֱ�� Boulder faculty member and administrator.”