Sally Buxton

THOUGHTS, on the occasion of my approaching demise, AKA My Obit:
Had I had a choice, I don't know whether I'd prefer death to come suddenly, with no advance notice, just, there. Or to know it is on its way in the too near future. Th have time to anticipate, to cry over what I'll miss...those I love, Places I've treasured, adventures I've been blessed to have, music that fills the soul...classics & country, opera & symphony, London musicals & chamber rehearsals at St. Martin's in the Fields. Even some jazz & the certain knowledge that I'll leave i the middle of the story, its endings (lives unfolding, cultures evolving, our earth struggling, might too often being right for too few, and the few, those who seek a better world, achieving it for all) yet to be resolved.
For better or ill, I seem not to. Not to have a choice. 2013 breast cancer, 2021 lung cancer, 2022 metastasized lung cancer in a host of skeletal sites, & the dearest of oncologists suggesting I get my affairs in order (to which I replied that closets & drawers may not be on my list, but the Estate plans are current, which raised a chuckle from a man who must too often remind his patients of mortality's too personal truth.)
Most anyone could write my obituary...Sally Buxton, born in Rochester, NY on 9-11-44 - died on ????in ????, eldest child of Anne Taylor & William Perrin Buxton, survived by her brother, Jeffrey Taylor, his wife Janelle Pote and daughter Jennifer Anne, sisters Lucy and Mary Perrin, and Mary's daughter Katherine Taylor Buxton. Graduated with a BA With Distinction in English from St. Lawrence University in 1966, and MA in Higher Education from The University of Michigan in 1967. Pursued a professional career in higher education at Boston University (MA) (Assistant to the Dean of Women), The University of Michigan (Assistant to the Chair of the Commission for Women & Assistant to the Vice President of State Relations & Planning), Anne Arundel Community College (MD) (Dean for Instructional Systems), Miami-Dade Community College (FL) (Dean for Administration) and Estrella Mountain Community college (AZ) (Vice President for Administration), retiring in 2007.
OK. Factual but boring. Married to her work. BUT, far more interesting, & far more encouraging for those tied to a humdrum existence, is what occurred between those lines.
A presence in my Mom's womb was diagnosed as a tumor. Despite her youth & inexperience, she disagreed. I entered the world about six weeks early, but certainly not a s a tumor. I was to be named Sally Ogden Buxton, acknowledging my maternal grandmother's maiden name...until a nurse exclaimed "You can't... think of her initials!" Little did she know I would have delighted in SOB.
A childhood moving about the country, settling in CT, being introduced to the wider world when I was selected as an American Field Service exchange student to Istanbul, Turkey, in 1965. A fabulous summer of new sites, sounds, smells. An appetite whetted.
St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY, saw me flunk out as a freshman, pledge Kappa Gamma, work as a Resident Advisor, graduate with Distinction in 1966 and, without the prospect of "MRS" in my immediate future, move on to the University of Michigan, completing an MA in Higher Education in 1967. Off to Boston University for the first of many administrative roles in post-secondary institutions.
Happily, my work was punctuated by unusual experiences: volunteering in Senator R.F. Kennedy's presidential campaign in Oregon and California; leading a large residential community's recovery from Hurricane Andrew as its HOA President; facilitating hurricane recovery at MDCC's Kendall Campus with the help of two branches of the US Army Reserves bivouacked there & a host of spectacular employees. My professional world was also blessed with fabulous friends, & the opportunity to watch four remarkable godchildren mature to pursue their own careers and delight in their own families.
The travel bug whetted in Turkey was well nourished as I explored multiple continents, cultures & cuisines interspersed with adventures: a helicopter ride to enjoy white water rafting in New Zealand, riding an ostrich in Sough Africa, paragliding in Switzerland & opting for so many yet too few annual trips to London for a skill ion plays in lieu of mental health counseling!
An uninformed but enthusiastic love of sports led to a July 4th at Wimbledon (Steffi Graff, Andre Agassi it all did not disappoint) & a week in Atlanta to see Olympic's Summer Games competitions in dressage, swimming, diving & to marvel at its brilliant logistical organization.
Moves throughout the United States to pursue new professional opportunities provided me an opportunity to learn about unique cultures within these United States. Those opportunities expanded moth my horizons and my collections, notable Haitian & Native American art.
I want more. More time. More experiences. More music. More friends. Just MORE. I hope this recital will encourage you to want more, and to go forth to find your own joys, to embrace them & to grow with them. j
To those who have shared my journey, accept my thanks, my delight in you, my recognition of your generosity to include my in your diverse worlds, & yes, accept my love, too.
Excelsior.
Sally Buxton To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Sally, please visit our Tree Store.