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Peter Buitenhuis Obituary
Buitenhuis, Professor Peter Martinus, December 8, 1925-November 28, 2004
Peter died quietly at home in the loving presence of his family who read to him and quietly supported his last days through their love for him and each other. He is deeply mourned by his wife Ann, and his children Paul (Nancy Harrison), Penelope, Pym (James Lahey); Beatrix (Ben Chappell), Hugo, their brother Henry Lovejoy; Juliana, Adrian; and his grandchildren Kate, Jason, Malcolm, Noah and Tara. Also his sister-in law Carol Stephenson and her mother Marguerite, and many dear friends, especially Lloyd Baron. He is survived by his siblings in England: Jack (Sheila), Derek (Eivor), Brian (Frances), and Mary (Michael) and many nieces and nephews.
Peter was a Professor of English at Simon Fraser University when he retired and continued to teach there. He remained an active scholar and participated in his community, church, Scottish country dancing club, and his favourite pursuits of sailing and skiing until very recently when his health failed.
The funeral was held on December 1 at St. Monica's Anglican Church in Horseshoe Bay. A memorial celebration will be planned at Simon Fraser University in January. Donations in Peter's memory can be made to The Peter Buitenhuis Scholarship Fund (awarded at SFU) c/o Minerva Foundation, 1730, 700 West Georgia St. PO Box 10036, Vancouver, BC, V7Y 1A1, tel. 604-683-7635 or to the Palliative Care Program, Lion's Gate Hospital Foundation, 231 East 15th Street, North Vancouver B.C. V7L 2L7.
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Memories and Condolences
for Peter Buitenhuis
1 Entry
Lydia Harris
December 14, 2004
Dear Ann and family,
I was one of Peter's doctoral student in the 1990s. I just heard about his death from a friend in Vancouver. I've been living the U.S. Virgin Islands since March 2001.
Peter took over as my disssertation supervisor from Ed Gibson. I felt grateful that he was willing take on the responsibilty of an interdisciplinary, special arrangements student, even though he was about to retire.
His guidance stays with me in my career as a features writer for a daily newspaper and my on-and-off-again relationship with university teaching. Can't seem to resist an English course.
One of my favorite teaching memories is as Peter's TA in a 100 level fiction course. The topic was war. He let TAs who wanted to do a full lecture. I asked to talk about the positive sides of war in Generals Die in Bed. I related a story about how thrilled my ex-husband was during R&R from Vietnam.
"We met in Hawaii, after not seeing each other for almost six months," I said. "At the hotel, he went into the washroom. I kept glancing at the door as he flushed the toilet several times. Finally I asked, 'What are you doing? And
he replied, 'It flushes! It flushes!'"
When I glanced over at Peter, I saw him laughing. Whew! After class he tole me that he enjoyed my approach to the novel and my use of humor to engage the class. Sometimes when I'm teaching, I think about how important that lesson was to understanding my effectiveness in the classroom.
The PhD didn't work out for me. But my life probably turned out happier because of it. I credit Peter with helping me believe in myself simply because he did.
One of my favorite quotes to use on new reporters or writing students came from Peter (I say it all the time). It is engrained my mind as a teacher and as writer.
Peter said, "As Hemingway said, 'There are no good writers. Only good re-writers.'" I can only hope that one of my students passes the message on.
Please accept my prayers that the void you now feel be filled with love.
God bless,
Lydia
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