M. Dean Buffington 1940-2020
Wealth Management Advisor
Dean Buffington was born November 3, 1940 in Custer, South Dakota and passed away on December 21, 2020 at St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise, just seven weeks after celebrating his 80th birthday. He was surrounded by his family.
When Dean was four years old, his parents, Loyd and Gladys, moved their family to Nampa, Idaho, and bought a small farm outside of town. Dean’s dad passed away when Dean was 12 years old. Growing up, Dean’s passion was baseball, and he played every chance he could out in the pastures with his brother, Larry, and his cousin Dale. He played high school baseball in Nampa, graduating in 1958 and with his keen left-handed skills earned a baseball scholarship to the College of Idaho. He even played semi-professional baseball for the Nampa Clippers for a short time.
During his high school and college days, Dean worked for the Albertson’s poultry plant. He loved working for Joe Albertson and appreciated the opportunity to have a job that could fit his school and baseball schedules. After graduating from the College of Idaho in 1963 with BAs in Accounting and Economics, he enrolled in law school at Willamette University and earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence in 1966. As soon as he graduated from law school Dean received his draft notice. He joined The United States Marine Corps Reserve in 1966 and served until 1972 which became one of his proudest accomplishments.
In 1967 Dean went to work for First Security Bank of Idaho. He spent his first two years in the management training program in the Jerome and Gooding branches before the President of the bank, Ralph Comstock, moved Dean to the Head Office in Boise to work on a time and motion study project. Mr. Comstock also convinced Dean to take the Idaho Bar Exam. Dean passed the bar on the first try and eventually found his first career calling in the Bank’s Trust Department. He was a 1975 graduate of The Pacific Coast Banking School at The University of Washington in Seattle.
Dean loved the work he did running the Trust Department and working with families to probate estates. He retired after 31 years in 1998 as Executive Vice President of First Security Bank of Idaho, Private Client Group. He was a director on the boards of First Security Bank of Idaho and First Security Investor Services, Inc.
In April of 1998, Dean found his second career calling with Bruce Mohr and Carey McNeal. They established the registered investment advisory firm of Buffington Mohr McNeal. Dean was always a mentor to his partners and colleagues. He exemplified the professional traits of a fiduciary advisor. He always kept his client’s interests ahead of his own. Even after he sold his share of the firm in 2014 he continued to work two days a week doing what he loved. Dean liked to say that he spent over fifty years working in downtown Boise. There were few strangers to Dean when he went out for a slice of pizza or Chinese food. On countless occasions, on a downtown walk when out to lunch with his partners, he stopped on the street to visit with someone; the Governor, a legislator, or someone he helped years before, always sharing his full attention and a story or two.
While working at the bank in Boise, Dean met the love of his life, Judy Irving, who had recently transferred from Emmett to the Boise Main Branch. Dean and Judy had so much in common, they were married a few months after meeting and maintained their union for fifty three years. They had two daughters, Julene (Julie) and Denise. Dean travelled the state working for the bank while Judy stayed at home with the girls. Dean cared deeply for Judy, and credits her for keeping him on task at home, at work, and in his civic affiliations. Among their many highlights together was participation in the ceremony in Washington DC where he and Judy laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Dean loved helping people. He spent time refereeing high school football games in his early days and coaching and refereeing his daughters’ games. Dean was so proud of his daughters, and his two grandchildren, Brooke and Drew Christie. Dean and Judy attended everything the grandchildren participated in from school programs to cross country meets to basketball games. From the time the grandchildren could start kicking a soccer ball, Dean and Judy were always there to support them and made many friends on the sidelines over the years. Both grandchildren are now in high school and Dean was recently able to share a special moment with his family when Brooke committed to play college soccer at St. Mary’s College in California.
Dean’s professional activities included membership in The Idaho State Bar Association, The Boise Estate Planning Council, The American Bankers Association, The Idaho Bankers Association, Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce, and The Associated Taxpayers of Idaho, Inc. He chaired or held leadership roles in most of these organizations.
His community involvement included leadership at The St. Alphonsus Foundation, The St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center, The State of Idaho Endowment Fund Investment Board, The Langroise Fund with the Idaho Community Foundation, Boise Art Museum, Inc., Boise State University Foundation, Inc., The College of Idaho, Idaho Community Foundation, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Idaho Chapter, Hillcrest Country Club, The Arid Club, Scottish Rite Bodies of Idaho (Masonic), El Korah Shrine, and Grand Lodge of Idaho, A.F. & A. M. (Masonic). He was a member of the Capital City #93 Masonic Lodge and he was honored to receive the 33 designation from the Scottish Rite.
He was especially proud of serving on the Endowment Fund Investment Board for the State of Idaho. He served for 19 years and as the Chairman for the last 17 years. Dean enjoyed working closely with the Governors, Legislature, Board and staff and, if he could, would thank all of them for the opportunity to work together and make a positive difference for Idaho.
Dean and Judy were members of Red Rock Christian Church. Dean served as Elder, Deacon and treasurer and on numerous committees. He also served on the Christian Church Foundation Board based in Indianapolis as well as the Pension Fund of the Christian Church. Dean was a person of strong faith and character. He carried his values with him every day. Dean always treated others with respect and took the time to let others know how much he cared.
Dean is survived by his wife, Judy, his daughter Julie (Scott) Christie, grandchildren Brooke and Drew Christie, all of Boise, and daughter Denise (Jon) Maline of Twin Falls. Dean loved his sons-in-law like they were his own sons. He is also survived by one brother, Floyd (Joan) Ayres, of Nampa as well as many nieces and nephews.
Dean was preceded in death by his parents, Loyd and Gladys Buffington, his sister, Hazel Hardy, and brothers Ed Ayres and Larry Buffington.
