Robert William Buggert

Robert W. Buggert July 25, 1918 - December 24, 2021 Music, art, family and friends were the joys in Bob Buggert's long creative life. He had a good run at it--and then some, always kind, gracious and generous. Encouraged by a junior high school music teacher in Chicago, Bob began playing the snare drum and by 1934, had won the National Snare Drum Champion title and played at the World's Fair in Chicago. He earned his college degree at the Vandercook School of Music and taught high school music and led bands in Illinois and Texas before enlisting in the Army. At the end of World War II, he was assigned to play in a dance band at a rehabilitation hospital for veterans in Augusta, Georgia. There he met the love of his life, Helen Woodward, an accomplished pianist in her own right and Red Cross volunteer. They married in 1946 and soon moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan where he earned a Ph.D. in musicology. Bob started his academic career as a faculty member at the University of Wichita and played timpani in the Wichita Symphony. He then chaired the music departments at the University of Oklahoma and Boston University before serving as Dean of the College of Fine and Applied Arts at Northern Illinois University until he retired in 1983. He composed widely recognized percussion works, including solo, ensemble and method books. He co-wrote a college text for music appreciation. In retirement, he and Helen traveled extensively throughout the world, enjoyed golf, friendships and dinner parties with a fine group of friends, and made innumerable trips to Chicago for art exhibits and concerts. They moved to Las Cruces, New Mexico in 1998 where their son, Richard, lives. They enjoyed each other's company. Bob received loving care and support from Richard and partner Mary. It was in Las Cruces that Bob took an art class and his own creative art expression exploded. From painting to sculpture, printmaking and collage, he experimented and produced hundreds of works which now adorn the walls of his family and friends. He worked with artists and dear friends Sam Peters and OR-diMa. At his 100th birthday party, he encouraged all the guests to choose whatever they would like from his prolific works. Until his last few months, he relished picking up pens and drawing whatever came to mind. He was predeceased by his adored wife of 67 years, Helen, and his beloved mother, Viola. He is survived by his sister, Joan; children Jana, Barbara and Richard; grandchildren Pamela, Edward, Katrina, Rebecca and Samuel; great grandchildren Marlena, Ethan, Mathilde and Viola; and great great grandchildren Russell and Rae. The family is particularly grateful to the staff at Good Samaritan Retirement Village where Helen and Bob lived for over twenty years and for the compassionate care Bob received in his last week at La Posada Messila Valley Hospice.