David Clarence Buffam, Sr., 75, died April 9, 2005, in the nursing home in Enterprise. He was born to Lois (Ratty) and Clarence Buffam in Portland on March 1, 1930.
After graduating in 1948 from Beaverton High School, he attended the University of Oregon, where he was a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity, and later attended Vanport College.
In 1950 he married Patricia Johnston. They moved to Fairbanks, Alaska, where Mr. Buffam was serving in the United States Air Force during the Korean War, and then to Beaverton where he served in the Oregon Air National Guard.
Mr. Buffam worked for several steamship and international freight forwarding companies. In 1972 he founded Ted L. Rausch Co. of Oregon, serving as president, CEO and chairman of the board until his retirement in 1987.
Mr. Buffam served as president of the Portland Air Cargo Association, Portland Shipping Club, Columbia River Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association. He was the founding chairman of the Pacific Coast Council of Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders and founding organizers of the West Coast Cargo Conference. He was a member of the Governor’s Advisory Council on Maritime Affairs and the Oregon District Export Council of the U.S. Department of Commerce, area director of the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America, and director of the Western International Trade Group.
Mr. Buffam was a member of one of the first trade delegations to go to China with the International Trade Section of the State Department during Nixon’s administration.
After retirement the Buffam s moved to Sunriver, where Mr. Buffam worked in property management and was part owner of Trips Travel Agency. He traveled to 34 countries and 49 states.
He joined the Bend Chapter of SCORE (Service Corp of Retired Executives), and in 1989, was asked to serve as volunteer director of International Trade and advisor to the Office of International Trade, U.S. Small Business Administration, in Washington D.C.
In 1995 the two moved to Enterprise. Mr. Buffam began a local SCORE chapter and counseled many small businesses in Wallowa and Union Counties. He remained active in the Enterprise community until he was overtaken by ALS and Pick’s Disease.
He is survived by his wife Patricia; children David Buffam, Jr., of New York City, N.Y., Steven and Luann Buffam of Camas, Wash., Leslie and Gary Graham of Union and Janis Buffam of Enterprise; brothers Paul Buffam of Beaverton and Larry Buffam of Moravia, N.Y.; sister Nancy Richter of Texas; 8 grandchildren; and 2 great-grandchildren.
No funeral service will be held according to his wishes. Instead a memorial celebration will be held later in the summer. Remembrances may be made to: Special Music Fund, Enterprise Community Church, 301 NE First St. Enterprise, Oregon, 97828 or Wallowa Valley Center for Wellness, P.O. Box 268, Enterprise, Oregon, 97828.
Wallowa County Chieftain – Thursday, April 14, 2005 (Photo with Obituary)
Contributed By: Sue Wells
Second Obit.
David Clarence Buffam Sr., 75, of Enterprise died April 9 at a care center. At his request there will be no funeral. A memorial service will be held later in the summer.
Mr. Buffam was born March 1, 1930, to Clarence and Lois Ratty Buffam in Portland. He attended the University of Oregon and Vanport College, and in August of 1950 he married Patricia Johnston. He served in the Air Force during the Korean War and in the Oregon Air National Guard.
He worked for the steamship agencies, Alexander & Baldwin Ltd., and Balfour, Guthrie & Co., then began a career in international freight forwarding with George S. Bush & Co. Inc. and J.T. Steeb & Co. In 1972 he started his own company, Ted. L. Rausch Co. of Oregon, and served as CEO and chairman of the board until his retirement in 1987.
He was the founding chairman of the Pacific Coast Council of Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders, and one of the founding organizers of the West Coast Cargo Conference. He was a member of the Governor’s Advisory Council on Maritime Affairs, the Oregon District Export Council and many other organizations, along with one of the first trade delegations to the People’s Republic of China. Among the awards he received, his favorites were the 1984 Boss of the Year from the Portland Women’s Shipping Club, and the Old Salt award in 1986 from the Portland Shipping Club.
After retirement the family moved to Sunriver where he worked in property management and was part owner of Trips Travel Agency. He organized a trekking adventure to Nepal, and a trip to the 1987 America’s Cup in Perth, Australia, and traveled with his wife around the world. The couple moved to Washington, D.C., where he served as executive director of the Service Corp of Retired Executives. In 1995 the couple moved to Enterprise, where he opened a SCORE chapter, counseling small businesses in Wallowa and Union counties. In 1997 he traveled to Hungary with the International Executive Service Corp.
Survivors include his wife of Enterprise; children and their spouses, David Buffam Jr. of New York, N.Y., Steven and Luann Buffam of Camas, Wash., Leslie and Gary Graham of Union, Janis Buffam of Enterprise; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; siblings and their spouses, Paul and Elizabeth Buffam of Beaverton, Larry and Laura Buffam of New York, and Nancy and David Richter of Texas, and other relatives.
Memorials may be made to the special music fund at the Enterprise community Church or the Wallowa Valley Center for Wellness in care of Bollman Funeral Home, 315 W. Main St., Enterprise.
LaGrande Observer – Obituaries for the week ending April 16, 2005 Published: April 13, 2005
Contributed By: Sue Wells
