James J. Buffer, Jr. was born in Peru, Illinois on June 25, 1937 to James and Mary Buffer. Maternal grandparents were Nicholas and Carmella Panzica of Peru, IL; and paternal grandparents were Dominic and Antonette Buffer of Spring Valley, IL, formerly of Calumet, MI.

Jim attended Chicago public schools and after graduating from Kelly H.S. in 1955, completed his baccalaureate degree at the Chicago Teachers College. He then attended the University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign as a Graduate Scholar and completed his Master’s degree in 1959 and Doctorate in 1966. 

Dr. Buffer’s career included that of a classroom teacher, counselor and administrator in the Chicago Public Schools before joining the faculty at the University of Illinois and Chicago State University.  He then moved to The Ohio State University where he served as Professor and Associate Dean for Research in the College of Education and earned distinction as a professor in the areas of technology education, human performance, and organizational development.  After 23 years, he retired from Ohio State in 1989 and joined the faculty at Virginia Tech as Dean of the College of Education and Horace G. Fralin Professor. He retired in 1997 and focused energies on the Collegiate Management Institute, an international leadership program he founded in 1987 and served as its Executive Director until 2003 when he retired for the final time to enjoy life in south Fort Myers, FL.

Dr. Buffer authored numerous scholarly publications in a diverse subjects including industrial technology, autism, mental retardation, leadership development, and neuroscience. He served as the co-director of the brain behavior laboratory at OSU, founding director of the Center for Organization and Technological Advancement, and as a director and adviser to many corporations and educational agencies. He also served as President of Council for Technology Teacher Education and the National Council for Industrial and Technology Teacher Education, and a distinguished member of the Association of Deans of Education in State Universities and Land Grant Colleges and The American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education.  He was recognized as the Technology Teacher Educator of the Year in 1984, but his greatest award was from his Ohio State students who provided  him with a teaching award for being a “Professor Who Gives a Damn.”  In 2003, the Collegiate Management Institute awarded him the title of President Emeritus of Scioto University, a virtual university Dr. Buffer created in 1987 to facilitate creative management and leadership education. 

He was a member of three international honorary societies in education and a co-trustee of Epsilon Pi Tau, Alpha Chapter at Ohio State.

Dr. Buffer is survived by his wife of 57 years, Dr. Loretta C. (Lomasz) Buffer, sons Jeffrey (Lisa) Buffer, Fr. Thomas Buffer, and Jim (Heather) Buffer of Columbus, OH; and daughter Karen (Scott) Rinehart of  South Bend, IN, ten loving grandchildren, and brother John (Betty) Buffer of Nalcrest, FL and sister Toni (Bob) Zielinski of Orland Park, IL and many nieces and nephews. 

Friends may call Thursday October 19, 2017 from 2-4 & 6-8 p.m. at the EGAN-RYAN FUNERAL HOME NORTHWEST CHAPEL, 4661 KENNY RD.  Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday 10:00 a.m. at St. Agatha Church, 1860 Northam Rd.  Burial St. Joseph Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to your local St. Vincent de Paul Society.  

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