Robert B. "Buzz" Hollander III

Robert B. "Buzz" Hollander III died unexpectedly on June 25, 2023 while flying from his home on the Island of Hawai'i to Seattle for medical care related to complications from cancer treatment. He was 53 years old.

Buzz was a gifted physician and writer, a beloved father, husband, and brother whose intense intellect was tempered by the joy he found in wild places and the people he loved. His family was the center of his world. He proposed on the side of a volcano to Michelle Suber, the woman who became his wife, and poured his heart and spirit of adventure into time with their two daughters: boogie-boarding on a flooding creek, playing a wood troll for a birthday party, or happily clucking over their beloved Rhode Island Red chickens.

Buzz held out facts for careful observation and plunged wholeheartedly into his many passions. An athlete, sports fan (of the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Yankees especially), and consummate outdoor explorer, Buzz grew up sleeping under the stars whenever possible. He cultivated a love of wild places throughout his life, from childhood trips in the White, Great Smoky, and Blue Ridge mountains to adult forays to Nepal and Guatemala, as well as the Maroon Bells, North Cascades, and High Sierra. Buzz was the self-appointed trip organizer, poring over maps and mining his photographic memory to create epic outings for others. He celebrated his 50th birthday with a round trip 40-mile trek from the family home to the sacred summit of 13,803-foot Mauna Kea.

The king of the airport pickup prank and a masterful poker player, Buzz was also a great cook, whipping up dishes with something extra - artfully arranged or with fresh flowers rimming the plate's edge. His legions of friends span decades and thousands of miles. A conversation with Buzz left you heard, challenged, loved, informed, and lifted. He shared hilarious, caring messages with friends and family. But it's the generosity, warmth, and light of Buzz's physical presence that's most sorely missed by those who love him.

As a physician, he was driven by compassion and a drive to learn. Together with his wife, Buzz founded a direct primary care medical practice on Hawai'i Island with a loyal community following. His sharp mind and thirst for learning spurred him to begin writing articles on medical issues, applying rigorous analysis to help his readers make informed decisions about their own health care. His centrist, data-focused perspective and clear, entertaining writing style had attracted a growing number of followers around the country and world.

Buzz grew up in a rambling yellow house on 10 acres of forest in Hopewell, N.J. and attended schools in the Hopewell Valley Regional School District. He graduated from Princeton University in 1991, completed his pre-med education at Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C., and earned his medical degree from the UNC School of Medicine in 2002, before finishing his residency at the Santa Rosa (Calif.) Family Medicine Residency Program in 2005. Buzz was preceded in death by his parents, the scholar Robert B. Hollander Jr. and the poet Jean Hollander. He is survived by his wife, Michelle, and daughters, Eve and Audrey; sister, Zaz, brother-in-law, Leo, and nieces, Josephine and Anneka. In lieu of flowers, feel free to wander in the woods with loved ones, devise various elaborate and heartfelt pranks, and revel in the wonder of it all.