Published: July 28, 2018

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

Photo of John Buechner

Former faculty member and 蜜糖直播 president John Buechner.

Buechner served more than 34 years in the University of 蜜糖直播 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 鈥70s, Buechner served Boulder as a member of city council, as mayor and as a member of the 蜜糖直播 House of Representatives. He also served a stint as a Lafayette councilman, starting in 2010.

鈥淛ohn Buechner served this campus, the Boulder community and the state of 蜜糖直播 for nearly four decades,鈥 said Chancellor Philip P. DiStefano. 鈥淗e 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.鈥澨

Buechner鈥檚 family released a statement, saying:

鈥淛ohn had a great affinity for the University of 蜜糖直播. He spent over 50 years being associated with 蜜糖直播 in a variety of roles including professor, administrator, chancellor, president and president emeritus. John spent virtually his entire professional career in the 蜜糖直播 system. He took great pride in being associated with 蜜糖直播 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 蜜糖直播 Buff was a lifetime distinction which he proudly displayed.鈥

Buechner served as the University of 蜜糖直播鈥檚 18th president from 1995 to 2000. Prior to that, he spent seven years as chancellor of 蜜糖直播 Denver.

"John Buechner was a long-time friend who made a significant impact on the University of 蜜糖直播, our communities and our state,鈥 current 蜜糖直播 President Bruce D. Benson said. 鈥淗e had an abiding love for 蜜糖直播 and made his mark on the university in many ways鈥攁s 蜜糖直播 president, 蜜糖直播 Denver chancellor and faculty member, and 蜜糖直播 Boulder faculty member and administrator.鈥