Submitted by: Dan Rich

Richard James Buzas

Oct. 29, 1956 - April 7, 2000

South Bend Tribune 4/9/2000

Richard James "Dick" Buzas, 43, of Hollyhock Road, South Bend, Ind., died after a short illness on Friday, April 7, in Hospice House of St. Joseph County, South Bend. Richard was born on Oct. 29, 1956, in South Bend, to Alex and Ramona (Skodinski) Buzas, and had lived in the area all of his life.

On Aug. 21, 1976, he married Cynthia Sue (Cindy) Ruggieri, who survives. He is also survived by his three sons, Ryan Joseph, James Richard and Nicolas Michael; his father, Alex J. Buzas, Sr., of South Bend, and his mother, Ramona T. Buzas of Mishawaka, Ind.; two brothers, Alex Buzas, Jr., of Niles, Mich., and Paul Gene (Lisa) Buzas of Puyallup, Wash.; two sisters, Donna (Tom) Popovic of North Liberty, Ind., and Judy (Ron) McMenemy of Las Vegas, Nev.; a father-in-law and mother-in-law, Nick and Bea Ruggieri of South Bend; a brother-in-law, Dennis (Denise) Ruggieri of South Bend; a sister-in-law, Cathy (Rex) Brown of Granger, Ind.; his nieces and nephews are Pam (Gary) Hawblitzel, Melissa Buzas, Amber Brown, Ashley Brown, Chelsey McMenemy, Carmen Ruggieri, Ian McMenemy, Dustin Ruggieri, A.J. Duncan, Michael Duncan, Foster Buzas, Tony Buzas, Dustin McMenemy and Tommy Popovic.

Richard was a graduate of Clay High School in 1975, and was an experienced auto body repairman, painter and mechanic, and loved to work on the repair and maintenance of cars. He also loved older cars and his hobby was to "fix" them up. He had a great sense of humor and loved to putter around the house and work outside. He loved listening to rock-and-roll music on WAOR 95.3. He loved spending the summers in the backyard swimming pool and having cookouts with his family, friends and neighbors. We will especially remember all the Christmas get-togethers at their home. We will never forget his orange hat, sweatpants and striped shorts.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, April 10, in Little Flower Catholic Church, 54191 N. Ironwood Road, South Bend. Friends and relatives may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. today, April 9, in the Bubb Funeral Chapel North, 3910 N. Main Street, Mishawaka. There will be a Rosary service held at 7:30 p.m. today. Cremation will take place with burial at St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park, Granger, Ind. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Cynthia Buzas family; or to Hospice of St. Joseph County, 111 Sunnybrook Court, South Bend, IN 46637-3437.