Emeritus – Physics

Professor and Chairman of the Department of Physics

Born in Aurora in 1938, Dr. Buss began teaching at Benedictine in 1970 after spending a few years on a postdoctoral appointment at Argonne National Laboratory new Batavia.

He received his doctorate in physics from the University of Notre Dame in 1967 and his undergraduate degree from Benedictine University, the former St. Procopius College, in 1961.

As a professor at Benedictine, Dr. Buss taught physics and developed a course in nuclear physics, but his greatest love was working with students.

“He was certainly an outstanding teacher, quiet caring, and worked effectively with students,” said Ralph Meeker, professor of physics and computer science at Benedictine. “He was quiet, soft-spoken, friendly, and easy to get along with.”

Dr. Buss’ wife, Margaret, said, “He was a teacher and he enjoyed being a teacher. I don’t think he ever thought about being anything else.”

Margaret Buss noted that several of her husband’s students went on to esteemed careers in the sciences. Though none of his work was patented, Dr. Buss invented several items, including a water therapy system to treat individuals with physical ailments.

Duane J. Buss passed away on Tuesday, May 5, 1998.