Nancy Dunning Buchenauer

Nancy Buchenauer, 79, died at the Hospice of the Chesapeake in Pasadena, Maryland on Tuesday, October 1, attended by her loving husband, Frank Rowsome. The second child of Florence and Dean Dunning, she was born February 23, 1945 in Garden City, New York.

Nancy earned a Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree at Cornell University, and a PhD in ancient Greek history from Brown University. She became a tutor at St. John's College in 1980 and taught there for her entire career, first on the campus in Santa Fe, New Mexico and then, starting in1998, on the campus in Annapolis, Maryland. She was loved and admired by students and colleagues alike for her deep learning, passionate curiosity, and generous kindness. She retired from active teaching in 2013 and was honored by the College as an Honorary Alumna . Nancy and Frank were friends for 60 years and devoted partners in a very happy marriage for the last 26 of them.

Nancy died as a result of a cerebral hemorrhage after a fall on August 28, which caused a severe concussion. She had been in good health. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Patricia Dunning, and her prior husband, Dr. C. Jerald Buchenauer. She is survived by her husband and her beloved cat Matchie. She chose to be a childless cat lady. She loved many cats in her life, especially longhaired Maine coon cats.

There will be a memorial gathering at St. John's College at a date which is yet to be determined. In lieu of flowers, contributions to honor Nancy may be made to St. John's College or to the American Indian College Fund.