John William Buzbee, of New York City and Deer Isle, Maine, died in a Maine hospital on August 5, 2025, with family by his side. He leaves behind his partner, Karen Bonner, his two sons, Bill and Stephen, his daughters-in-law, Lisa Chang and Monica Driscoll, and his three grandchildren, Tian, Seana, and John. He was preceded in death by his wife, Ellen Wade Buzbee in 2004, and his daughter Lynn in 2007.
John was born in New York City on May 23, 1932. He grew up an only child in an apartment complex straddling Bronxville and Mt. Vernon, NY. He met his future wife, Ellen, while at Bronxville High School, although they did not date until their college years. John attended Colgate University, the first person in his family to go to college. He sang with the Colgate Thirteen and was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon. After graduating college in 1954, John enlisted in the US Navy. John and Ellen married in 1955 after Ellen graduated from Wellesley College. The newlyweds were based in Pensacola, Florida while John served as a naval officer on the aircraft carrier USS Saipan. Following naval service, the couple moved to New York City, where John joined the insurance brokerage firm Marsh & McLennan. He rose to head the Marine and Hull divisions, was appointed a Managing Director, and ended his career heading a new subsidiary in London, Marsh & McLennan Bowring Marine and Energy Group Ltd. While living in New York City, John and Ellen both earned Masters degrees in English at NYU. John later earned an Executive MBA from Harvard University.
In the early 1960s, John and Ellen moved to Scarsdale, NY so their three children could enjoy the town's excellent public schools. He and Ellen were active in civil rights and fair housing efforts; both remained politically active throughout their lives. They shared the goal of helping the disadvantaged find opportunity, especially through education.
After purchasing a small cabin on the coast in Deer Isle, Maine in 1969, John and Ellen regularly squeezed all three kids (and Henry the dog) into the car for the 9 hour trek from NY to the Maine cabin. Lifelong sailors, John and Ellen passed on their love of sailing to the whole family. They sailed throughout Penobscot Bay, the entire East Coast, and even to the Bahamas on their beloved boat Shagbird III. They also frequently chartered sailboats in the Caribbean. After their youngest child graduated from high school, they moved back into New York City and lived on the Upper West Side. They relished city living. John and Ellen loved to explore, travelling throughout Europe and visiting many other far-flung destinations. They shared big wedding anniversaries with children and their families, travelling to coastal South Carolina, Italy and the Galapagos Islands. The John-and-Ellen love story was sadly cut short due to Ellen's death from cancer.
After Ellen's death, John continued to reside in New York City and Maine, planning trips and cruises, making new friends, and maintaining his many friendships from childhood, his college years, and Navy days. John met his partner, Karen, while on a cruise in 2009. Together, they continued to travel. John introduced Karen to his love for New York City and Deer Isle. They split time between both locations until the end.
Throughout his life, his irreverent wit and curiosity never faded. He was an avid reader of the New York Times, The New Yorker, novels, and history as well. Books on cities and urban vitality were frequently on his must-read recommendations. His go-to reference book on good writing was The Elements of Style, by Strunk & White. He regularly handed out copies to family, friends, and work colleagues. He kept getting on the tennis court into his 92nd year, still offering suggestions to the relatively immature players across the net. He loved good food, music, musicals, and humor, and he relished sharing them. When he liked a particular show, he would often see it multiple times with different friends and family. His enthusiasm for life was infectious. His desire to share is something to emulate. He never stopped reading, learning, questioning others' word usage, and reveling in life's wonders.
John was born in New York City on May 23, 1932. He grew up an only child in an apartment complex straddling Bronxville and Mt. Vernon, NY. He met his future wife, Ellen, while at Bronxville High School, although they did not date until their college years. John attended Colgate University, the first person in his family to go to college. He sang with the Colgate Thirteen and was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon. After graduating college in 1954, John enlisted in the US Navy. John and Ellen married in 1955 after Ellen graduated from Wellesley College. The newlyweds were based in Pensacola, Florida while John served as a naval officer on the aircraft carrier USS Saipan. Following naval service, the couple moved to New York City, where John joined the insurance brokerage firm Marsh & McLennan. He rose to head the Marine and Hull divisions, was appointed a Managing Director, and ended his career heading a new subsidiary in London, Marsh & McLennan Bowring Marine and Energy Group Ltd. While living in New York City, John and Ellen both earned Masters degrees in English at NYU. John later earned an Executive MBA from Harvard University.
In the early 1960s, John and Ellen moved to Scarsdale, NY so their three children could enjoy the town's excellent public schools. He and Ellen were active in civil rights and fair housing efforts; both remained politically active throughout their lives. They shared the goal of helping the disadvantaged find opportunity, especially through education.
After purchasing a small cabin on the coast in Deer Isle, Maine in 1969, John and Ellen regularly squeezed all three kids (and Henry the dog) into the car for the 9 hour trek from NY to the Maine cabin. Lifelong sailors, John and Ellen passed on their love of sailing to the whole family. They sailed throughout Penobscot Bay, the entire East Coast, and even to the Bahamas on their beloved boat Shagbird III. They also frequently chartered sailboats in the Caribbean. After their youngest child graduated from high school, they moved back into New York City and lived on the Upper West Side. They relished city living. John and Ellen loved to explore, travelling throughout Europe and visiting many other far-flung destinations. They shared big wedding anniversaries with children and their families, travelling to coastal South Carolina, Italy and the Galapagos Islands. The John-and-Ellen love story was sadly cut short due to Ellen's death from cancer.
After Ellen's death, John continued to reside in New York City and Maine, planning trips and cruises, making new friends, and maintaining his many friendships from childhood, his college years, and Navy days. John met his partner, Karen, while on a cruise in 2009. Together, they continued to travel. John introduced Karen to his love for New York City and Deer Isle. They split time between both locations until the end.
Throughout his life, his irreverent wit and curiosity never faded. He was an avid reader of the New York Times, The New Yorker, novels, and history as well. Books on cities and urban vitality were frequently on his must-read recommendations. His go-to reference book on good writing was The Elements of Style, by Strunk & White. He regularly handed out copies to family, friends, and work colleagues. He kept getting on the tennis court into his 92nd year, still offering suggestions to the relatively immature players across the net. He loved good food, music, musicals, and humor, and he relished sharing them. When he liked a particular show, he would often see it multiple times with different friends and family. His enthusiasm for life was infectious. His desire to share is something to emulate. He never stopped reading, learning, questioning others' word usage, and reveling in life's wonders.
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