Martin Buys Jr.

Martin W Buys, Jr. 73, of Highlands Ranch, CO passed away on January 12, 2021, at Littleton Adventist Hospital, from COVID-19. Born January 20, 1947, Marty lived a remarkable life, with a big voice that protected the environment and his family. To his core, he was honest, ambitious, decent, inquisitive, smart, brave, loving, kind and funny. The oldest of two sons of a painter, Marty and his brother David Buys would help their father paint the St. Bonaventure Parish, in Paterson, NJ on Saturdays and served as Altar Boys on Sundays. Marty graduated from St. Bonaventure High School in 1965 and shortly thereafter left for military service in Viet Nam after training at Fort Dix and Fort Sam Houston. In the Army, he was known as “Doc Buys,” a medic who in 1970, was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for heroism for having saved lives of those in combat in the 3rd Platoon, Delta CO, 3/1. He came home, having survived malaria and the lingering effects of exposure to Agent Orange. After marrying Fran Jamison in 1972, Marty used the GI Bill to enroll at Rutgers University where he earned a BS and then MS, in Environmental Science, graduating both Summa Cum Laude. After a stint in public health, Marty accepted a job offer as an Environmental Regulatory Compliance & Safety Manager with the Tenneco Oil Company which led him to go west, to Denver, now with a new baby, Sara. Quickly, Marty established himself as an expert. His quick assessments and solutions during critical situations were legendary and he caught the attention of the drivers of the Oil & Gas Industry in the Rocky Mountain Region. In 1990, he started Buys & Associates, Inc. (B&A) in the basement of his home. He began to hire specialized scientists, engineers and other experts who built a powerhouse of technical talent. Appointed Commissioner by Governor Owens to serve on the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, he also provided leadership to several oil and gas associations, including the Rocky Mountain Oil & Gas Association and more. For a brief time, he taught environmental science to graduate students at the University of Denver. Following a divorce, Marty met, and later married Patricia Kerrigan Kuskie at the Denver Botanic Gardens and an unexpected Love Story evolved while exploring international market opportunities with an intention to further expand the firm. With Pat’s eye for talent and Marty’s demand for rigor and precision, the B&A footprint spread beyond the Rocky Mountain Region. New office locations included Grand Junction and Meeker, Colorado and Vernal and Moab, Utah. Those who worked shoulder-to-shoulder with Marty found it to be a privilege and a challenge. When a contact wanted to break into the environmental business, Marty was always willing to lend a hand. So many environmental scientists generously credit Marty for their continued professional success. In 2010, Marty sold his firm to Kleinfelder, a San Diego-based company, to add environmental management experience in the Oil & Gas Industry to their service capabilities. Both Marty and Pat continued to work for Kleinfelder until 2014, when they headed to Carlsbad, CA to learn how to dial back the intensity of their work life through meditation, on the beach, at sunrise. And then they started a new company, B&B, Inc., a Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business full-service consulting firm. This work wrapped in 2018, leaving a wide berth to do more travel, hunting, fishing, exploring, and spending time with family and friends around a campfire. Marty was devoted to his daughter, Sara, with whom he shared a fascination for world travel and annual trips up Georgia Pass by snowmobile; and an engaged, thoughtful, and inspirational stepdad to Jack Kuskie and Kristen Kuskie; a loving father-in-law to Kasey Kuskie; and an involved Pop Pop to grandchildren Brooklynn, Jillian, and Kaden Kuskie and Ryan Lynn Freitas, all of whom have learned to love science projects. Pop Pop never missed a choir concert or a dance recital, and would travel to the First Baptist Academy, in Dallas, to watch Ryan perform at school and then get ice cream.  He cheered the grandkids on from the sidelines at sporting events and was always quick to facilitate and explain new experiences. Marty was a hunter who believed in conservation and resource management. He served on the Board of Directors for the Denver Chapter of Safari Club International and was an active member of the Valhalla-Bijou Hunt Club, in Bennet, CO where Marty and Jack frequently hosted hunts with friends. He loved to fish and was an active member of Trout Unlimited. He treasured time spent with his hunting and fishing buddies; all of whom became lifelong friends. Recently, Jack influenced Marty to get a boat—"The Nap Wagon,” which remains on a slip at Chatfield Lake during the summer season. Until recently, Marty and Pat spent considerable time in theaters in New York City, as well as enjoyed membership with the Denver Center for Performing Arts Best of Broadway shows. Marty loved to wander art and science museums; he consumed 2-3 books each week, fascinated mostly by the dialogue between characters. He was a member of a small group of movie buffs, writers, and fellow head scratchers engaged in a collective search for meaning.

As a Philanthropist, Marty was a generous donor to causes he found critical to the well-being of those affiliated with Volunteers of America. Music, from Vivaldi to Jimi Hendrix, was also important to Marty and attending concerts was a way of life. He was a Broncos fan who often napped with 76,000 fans around him--although he did stay awake for the Super Bowl 50 win on the Bay, in 2016.  Marty and Pat enjoyed a life together that was unimaginable. They were stalked by Cape Buffalo, in Africa; hiked among Grizzly Bears in Alaska; explored the tundra in Churchill, in search of polar bears; became certified divers in Maui and pulled in sturgeons from the Fraser River, in British Columbia. Together, they lived a nearly 30-year Adventure Love Story that ended far too soon.

Marty is survived by his wife, Patricia K. Buys; Sara Buys, Jack & Kasey Kuskie, Kristen Kuskie and several grandchildren; his brother, David Buys, sister-in-law Sharon, and nephews David Buys II and Jarret Buys, in Montville, NJ; sisters-in-law, Jo Ellen Griese (Butch) in Midland, MI; Barbara Varner (Dale) in FL; and Marge Thomas, also in FL; as well as several nieces and nephews who enjoyed Marty’s storytelling. Marty will be interred with a Military Funeral Honors Ceremony at Fort Logan National Cemetery, on January 26 with his family present.  A Day of Remembrance and Celebration will be announced in the spring, at the Horan & McConaty Centennial facility, once pandemic restrictions have been lifted and friends and family may gather safely.  In lieu of flowers, please support Volunteers of America or your preferred community-based organization dedicated to reaching those in need. Condolences and remembrances of Marty may be sent to The Buys Family, 957 Fairchild Dr, Highlands Ranch CO 80126.

Marty's committal ceremony at Fort Logan will be live streamed; you may visit this link on the 26th to watch in real time https://bxcited.com/martinbuys/