Garth Buchanan Obituary

NINETY-SEVEN glorious years!

Garth Buchanan was born July 12, 1924, in Bellingham, Washington. Garth was a great high school student, participating in as many sporting event activities as possible to get out of farm chores. Garth was quarterback of the football team, point guard of the basketball team and earned State honors in both golf and tennis. While living in the Pacific Northwest he became an avid skier and climber. In early 1943 he knew he would eventually be drafted, so he petitioned the Army with an extensive resume including his mountaineering experience and three letters of recommendation to the National Ski Patrol Office in NYC, for consideration to join the elite 10th Mountain Division. He figured if he had to join, do something he loved and be a Ski Troop. Once enlisted, there was a mishap sending him with the 87th to Camp Roberts in California. Luckily four weeks later a letter arrived from the Pentagon directing him to report to Camp Hale, Colorado. In April 1943 he was assigned to Company F, 2nd Battalion 86th Mountain Division Infantry Regiment. He trained at Camp Hale with the 10th Mountain Division men and fought in The Battle of Riva Ridge and Po Valley Italy in 1945. Garth was awarded a Bronze Star for his bravery in that battle. As the only son of a logger in the Pacific Northwest, higher education was not a goal for Garth until he was exposed to college educated men in the 10th Mountain Division. Through the GI bill he earned his BA in Math and Physics. In 1955, he received his PhD in Behavioral Science and Statistics at University of Colorado Boulder.

Garth met Sue after his return from the war and married her in 1950 as they were both avid skiers and climbers. During their sixty-four years of marriage, they lived a spectacular life together while Garth held many prestigious jobs with; RAND Corp, Lincoln Labs, System Dell Corp., Inst. For Defense Analyses, Johns Manville Corp., MITRE Corp., and IDA. The highlight during those years for Sue and Garth was having their two sons Rees and Evan in 1957 and 1959 while moving throughout the country. The family enjoyed the mountains, skiing, fine dining, and travel. In 1989 Garth retired with Sue, as the mountains were calling and they built their dream home in Durango, CO.

It was an unusual combination to be a scientist, an artist (he was a photographer) and write well, but Garth possessed those attributes. He also wrote an editorial for The Durango Herald called "On Science" for almost two decades and published over 200 articles. Retirement gave time for Garth to write many memoirs for family and friends. They explored the southwest and immersed themselves in the Durango community. Garth and Sue's home became an epicenter for good food and spirited debates. They were the consummate hosts and had friends of all ages and walks of life.

After Sue died in 2014, he continued to live in their dream home with their cat Mikaru. Mikaru died in December 2021. With his two companions gone, it felt like that was the beginning of the end of his story. On Tuesday, May 17, 2022, Garth passed away. He left a wonderful legacy for our family and will be missed tremendously!

Garth is preceded in death by his wife Sue and granddaughter Olivia Buchanan. Survived by his two sons Rees (Lisa) Buchanan, Phoenix, AZ; Evan (Amy) Buchanan, Durango, CO; grandchildren Brittney Buchanan Mytko, Grant Buchanan, Phoenix, AZ and Emma Buchanan, New York, NY: two great grandchildren Darby Mytko and Brady Mytko. In lieu of cards or flowers, Garth would want charitable donations to his late granddaughter Olivia Buchanan's foundation, The Olivia Buchanan Avalanche Education Foundation.

Community Foundation

The Olivia Buchanan Avalanche Education Fund

P.O. Box 1673

Durango, CO 81302

www.swcommunityfoundation.org