Donald W. BUNIS

BUNIS - Donald W. Age 69, March 10, 2010 in Buffalo at Hospice. He was the son of the late Jack and Sadie Bunis. He was predeceased by his beloved wife Lynn Farris. He is survived by daughters, Shara, Wendy, Jill (Julius) Coletta, and Molly (Mark) Daniels, and by Grandchildren Brittanie, Jami, Tommy, Kevin, Iris and Cameron, Aunt Esther B. Haber-Kranitz, and many loving cousins and friends. Don graduated from The Nichols School, St. Lawrence University and SUNY Albany. He continued his studies later in life at the Universities of Maryland and Oldenburg in Distance Education. Successful in sales, he went on to serve as Assistant Registrar and then Registrar at Suny Albany and was the founding chair of the SUNY Registrars Association. In 1979 Don was appointed Registrar at The American University in Washington, DC where he served until his retirement in 2002. He then founded Bunis Educational Consulting Services and provided leadership, educational and technical consultation through AACRAO, the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers and the American University until shortly before his death. His professional accomplishments earned many awards, including "Best in the Business Award", which, in 2002, was renamed the "Don Bunis Best in the Business Award", in perpetuity. He was recognized the same year with the "Distinguished Staff Award" by the Office of International and Multi-Cultural Affairs of American University. Don had many talents. In 1958, he was the drummer in the winning NYS High School Jazz Combo. He starred in "Guys and Dolls" and "The King and I" at St Lawrence. For the rest of his life, almost fifty years, whether playing drums in a band, participating in community theater, or writing, often with his wife Lynn, directing and acting in plays at his church, he pursued his interest in music and theater. A humanitarian, Don was very involved with his church, conducting lay services, and leading activities related to fundraising, minority scholarships and social justice. In 2003 Don and Lynn fulfilled their dream of retiring to Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland. He became an integral member of his community, enjoying Scotland and his new passion, golf. He was active in the St. Fillans's Music Society Concert Association, The Strathearn Music Society, in Creiff, and The friends of Cognac, sponsoring visits to families in France and hosting them in Perthshire. Don was a loving father, husband, grandfather and friend. He will be missed by all who knew and appreciated his enthusiasm, integrity, sensitivity, friendship, and very special sense of humor. Memorial Services will be held at The River Road Unitarian Church in Bethesda on Sunday May 30th, and in July in Comrie. Contributions may be made to The Hospice Foundation, 225 Como Park Boulevard, PO Box 590, Buffalo, NY 14240-0590, or to The Scleroderma Foundation, 300 Rosewood Drive, Suite 105, Danver, MD 01923.