Donald W. Bussmann ’42

Donald Bussman, a physician and medical educator, died Jan. 17, 2011, in Seattle as the result of a fracture incurred in a fall.  

Don attended St. Louis University High School and the Hun School. At Princeton he joined Dial Lodge, majored in biology, and was awarded Sigma Xi and departmental honors. Following graduation he enrolled in Washington University School of Medicine, where he was an honor student and member of Alpha Omega Alpha.  

Don served for several years as an Army physician and then returned to St. Louis. He joined the faculty of St. Louis University School of Medicine, where he was one of the founders of its section of cardiology, associate dean of the medical school, and associate professor of medicine.  

Don was active on the board of the Priory School of St. Louis. He helped found its department of biology and served as an instructor there for 15 years. In 1992 he received the Luke Rigby Award for outstanding service to the school.  

Don’s wife, Elsie, to whom he had been married for 65 years, predeceased him, as did his children Donald Jr. and Mark. He is survived by his son Carl ’68; daughters Patsy Cecil and Suzie Ramey; 14 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren, to whom the class sends condolences.