The funeral service for former American River College philosophy professor Robert Buckenmeyer, who passed away Dec. 12, was held early last month at St. Joseph Catholic Parish in Lincoln.
“I respected his deep passion both for students and philosophy,” said fellow ARC philosophy faculty member, Dennis Holden
Buckenmeyer last taught in ARC during the 2008 fall semester.
“Teaching for over 40 years and to still have that passion, I say that’s pretty cool,” added Holden.
Buckenmeyer is described by Holden as someone who was very into the philosophy of education, saw his classroom as a sacred place and would wear suits, but take his shoes off before teaching as a voluntary gesture.
When it came to his students, Holden said that Buckenmeyer cared about the education his students received from him, instead of failing students, he would edit and let his students rewrite their papers. He would even work with students individually because, it was really important to him, for the students that cared about their grades.
“He was quirky, but full of information, and always entertaining,” humanities administrative assistant Liliya Dorofeyev said.
Aside from being an educator, the San Francisco native, born on Sept. 9, 1931 was a husband, a father of five and a grandfather of eight.
“Bob taught us many wonderful lessons about life and how to be gentlemen,” Bob Becker said of Buckenmeyer on the obituary website, legacy.com.
He had many different talents and hobbies and in his free time enjoyed making wine. He was also a youth soccer coach, and had a black belt in Tang Soo Do.
Buckenmeyer was the author of three poetry books, two books on Montessori education and a book on Philosophy.
For 55 years, he served as a professor of philosophy at several other colleges, including Santa Clara University, Mount St. Mary’s College and Canisius College in Buffalo, New York.
Patricia Rannefeld • May 11, 2020 at 2:36 am
Robert Buckenmeyer was an extraordinary teacher. He was brilliant, driven, passionate and aware of the uniqueness of each and everyone of us. He also Dearly Loved God!!! He was the best teacher I ever had! And he was my father. I am Bobs eldest daughter. My fathers teaching influenced students lives . He Loved to teach and Loved his subject matter and mostly Loved To Learn. Thank-you for honoring my father this way, I am a speclai education tacher and thank my father every day for being such an intelligent man. He was a gift to all of us.
Sean Hollingsworth • Dec 29, 2016 at 10:53 am
Mr Buckenmeyer is one of my more memorable professors at ARC. He was such a warm soul; and every student experienced this. I’m glad that he lived a long and wonderful life, and touched so very many people in a positive way. May he rest in peace. My prayers go out to his family.
Michael Kelly • Jan 11, 2015 at 1:13 am
I was in Roberts philosophy class at Canisius College in Buffalo, NY 50 years ago this spring and vividly recall it. And I realize its influenced my thinking and work in business and systems in the intervening time.
I looked him up to try to see if we could meet and talk and I was so saddened to learn of his death. How interesting that philosophy has come back to so much meaning in my life and work (which is about the need for meaning in communication to solve big problems). Turns out that improving the communication of meaning (as in meetings, politics, science, tech, social media, marketing, PR, Advertising, etc.) would require going back to philosophy? I think. Mental note for me: don’t procrastinate talking to wise people.