Donald Buenger

He was a gentle soul who touched the hearts of everyone he met. From family to colleagues, from support staff to the teller at the local bank, everyone is devastated with news of his passing and immediately speak of the pleasure they had of knowing him.

Born on May 18, 1951 in Chicago, Illinois, he spent his youth on the tumultuous streets being raised in all respects by the neighborhood and local families. It was during these years as a young teenager that he met our mother, Brigitte. Sitting in detention, Dad noticed Mom from across the room and did what many great romantics have done throughout the ages harking back to the Shakespearian days: a strategically placed spitball to get her attention. It was love at first sight. Since the age of 14, they were together almost every day thereafter, only being separated when Mom was taken by cancer at the young age of 43. During those years together they built a family full of love, support, and unwavering dedication.

Dad’s commitment to education and his profession were always a significant aspect of his character. Despite his troubled youth, Dad obtained a Bachelor of Architecture with Honors from the prestigious Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago and would become licensed in 22 states. Professionally, Dad was an extraordinarily dedicated Architect. He was not only committed to practicing his art at the highest level, but equally dedicated at elevating all those that worked with him. His mentorship and calm demeanor helped shape countless young architects. Based on the reactions of numerous colleagues and past clients we have spoken with, Don’s absence will have an impact within the architectural community for some time to come.

From a personal point of view, all three of us were greatly influenced by Dad’s professionalism and passion for excellence. The oldest and youngest sons, David and Brian, both inherited the art and design gene. For David, the many years spent under Dad’s drafting table helped shape his chosen career in Industrial Design that continues to provide for him and Dad’s three grandchildren, Maddy B, Jackson, and Cody. Brian also inherited this art gene and many of his drawings and pictures still hang in Dad’s house as we write this memorial. Although the art/design gene seems to have skipped the middle son, Peter, he inherited Dad’s desire for reading, knowledge, and education, which has resulted in Peter earning three degrees and becoming a successful New York attorney. All three of us are, and will be, eternally grateful for the attributes we obtained by having Don as our father.

In addition to these professional traits, we also observed a loving marriage which resulted in both David and Peter finding the loves of their lives, Cassy and Michelle. David and Cassy have been married for over 19 years, while Peter and Michelle have been married for over 16 years. Dad commented over the years how extraordinary it was that they both reminded him so much of our mother: strong-willed, caring, bright, and beautiful young women. True to his nature, he never criticized either of them and loved them without condition. Both Cassy and Michelle feel his loss as much as any of his sons.

Some say that the brighter a star the faster it burns out. Maybe it is also the case that the bigger the heart, the less time it is able to keep beating for loved ones. After a prior heart attack almost 10 years ago, his heart was not able to survive the most recent heart failure. In a final act that personified who Don was, he donated his organs to those in need, an act that comes as no surprise to anyone that knew him. At the age of 69, he was too young to be taken from us and he will be missed by all those he impacted over the decades.

Don is survived by three sons, two daughters-in-law, three grandchildren, five dogs and one dog/bear hybrid. We all miss him dearly.

To all those who have taken the time to visit this site and read this memorial, we encourage you to please leave any comments, stories, or simply share with the group. While painful to read at times, each story, each condolence, each comment, continues to remind us of who Dad was and what he meant to so many. It is difficult to find the words to express how much these stories, condolences, and comments mean to us. At a minimum, thank you, thank you, thank you.

The service for Donald C. Buenger will be held at 11:00 a.m. (ET) on Saturday, December 5, 2020 at Arlington Memorial Park, 201 Mt. Vernon Hwy, Sandy Springs, GA 30328.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions and safety concerns, the number of people that will be able to attend in person is being limited to close friends and family. If you would like to attend in person, please contact David Buenger at [email protected] / (678) 908-0488 and/or Peter Buenger at [email protected] / (404) 788-5932.

For those that are unable to attend in person, we will also be live streaming the services at the following link: Donald Buenger Memorial Service https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=uO4ZMWBsGQQ&app=desktop (If Hyperlink not active, please copy & paste to new browser tab.)- December 5th, 2020 11AM EST. Please contact David or Peter if you have any questions.

Love,

David, Peter and Brian Buenger