Richardson "Dick" Buist

1921 - 2014

BASKING RIDGE -- Richardson "Dick" Buist, of Basking Ridge, a retired corporate executive and banker, died Wednesday, July 30, 2014, after a very short illness.

He was born Aug. 8, 1921, in Brooklyn, N.Y., to George Lamb and Adelaide (Richardson) Buist. He married Dr. Jean Mackerley, DVM, Oct. 2, 1948, at Newton.

Mr. Buist attended Yale University and worked at the Sussex County Independent 1946-48, the Dover Advance 1950-53 and later as the business manager of the New Jersey Herald in Newton, 1953-70. After one career in newspaper work, he began yet another as a banker, serving as a trust officer for Midlantic/Sussex & Merchants Bank in Newton and Midlantic National Bank in Newark from 1971 until his retirement in 1988.

He was active in many facets of public service and gave unselfishly of his time and expertise, serving as officer, trustee or director in a myriad of charities and worthy causes, including the Sussex County Chapter of the American Cancer Society, the Sussex County Music Foundation, Morris-Sussex Area Health Facilities Planning Council, Sussex County Council on the Arts, Morris-Sussex Area Council BSA, Newton Memorial Hospital Board of Governors, Northwest Jersey Health Care, United Way of Sussex County, Prime Care Inc, Sussex County Arts and Heritage Council, New Jersey Highlands Coalition, New Jersey Veterinary Medical Society Auxiliary and his favorite, Newton Rotary.

Mr. Buist loved the hills and forests of Sussex County, where he made his home for most of his life. He was particularly attached to the Hamburg Mountain area of Hardyston and Vernon, where he lived first seasonally and later full-time. He hiked in summer and skied in winter. He honorably fought the political battles to preserve the mountain, but subscribed to a "wise use" philosophy and conservation ethic that was embodied in the declaration of the private family holding he managed for the Morford Conservation Corp., as a New Jersey Tree Farm. The property, while it remained "green," produced firewood and saw timber and will do so for generations to come.

He loved to travel and accompanied his wife, Jean, on trips around the world, including photographic safaris in Africa and visiting relatives and friends in Scotland and many of the cities of Europe. Constantly seeking challenge and adventure, he accompanied Jean north to Fairbanks, Alaska, for many years to do volunteer work on the Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race between Fairbanks and Whitehorse, Yukon Territory.

Mr. Buist leaves his daughter Betsi Bixby, of Weatherford, Texas; daughter Jean Earle and husband, Terry, of Chatham; son, Peter and friend, Emma Lee Grennan, of Fairbanks, Alaska; grandchildren, Sheila, Morgan, Abbey and Jason and wife, Susan; three great-grandchildren, Jaden, Kaiya and Ava Buist; and many, many dear friends.

Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 15, at Fellowship Village in Basking Ridge and 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16, at the First Presbyterian Church of Newton.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to a charity of choice or to The Rotary International Permanent Fund or The Poly Prep Country Day School's E. Frances Woodward Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Smith-McCracken Funeral Home, 63 High St., Newton.

Online condolences may be offered at www.smithmccrackenfuneralhome.com.