Thomas C. Buell ’49

    Tom, teacher, scholar, artist, poet, theatrical performer, environmental activist, and lover of life in the West, died April 15, 2023. He was 95.

Tom, a son of the Class of 1918, came to Princeton from South Kent School, following his brothers, Edward ’42 and Bill ’46. Tom majored in English, graduated with high honors, played rugby, and joined Theatre Intime and Charter Club. After 18 months in the Army, he taught at Williston Academy and St. George’s, married Joan, and then moved to Bangkok to teach English with the U.S. Information Agency.

Returning to the U.S., Tom earned a Ph.D. from the University of Washington and the family moved to Portland, Ore., where he spent the next 35 years teaching English at Portland State University, an institution focusing on nontraditional students.

Tom also continued acting, writing (he was a published poet), and pursuing a second (or third?) career in sculpture and painting. Add this to his love of the outdoors, and you see a life well lived.

Tom is survived by his wife of nearly 70 years, Joan Strong (Smith ’54); three children, Tom Jr., Hester, and Dexter; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.