A KNIGHT TO REMEMBER

by Kathleen Quigley

HONORING FATHER ROBERT J. BUETER, S.J. 1942 - 2019

Heroes are more likely to wear a cape than a collar, but in the summer of 1990, an unconventional and unexpected hero arrived at Lexington Catholic, adorned in the traditional Jesuit apparel, collar included. That summer, Lexington Catholic was looking at opening the school year with its lowest enrollment since 1951, when St. Catherine’s Academy and Lexington Latin merged to become Lexington Catholic High School. Like its mascot, Lexington Catholic was in dire need of a true Knight to confront the problems that threatened the school’s very existence. “Lexington Catholic needed a leader with a vision, and a leader with the conviction to see that vision come to fruition,” said Danny Haney, who was the Athletic Director of the school when Fr. Bueter arrived, “and miracle of miracles, there he was.” Now, nearly thirty years later, the Lexington Catholic community is mourning the unexpected loss of its former school president Fr. Robert J Bueter, S.J., who passed away after a brief illness, on Dec 2, 2019. For Fr. Bueter, his assignment at LCHS (from 1990 to 1999) was one that he would refer to as his most beloved. After serving as principal for a year, he established the Jesuit administrative model and served as president for the remaining eight years. As president, Fr. Bueter helped raise enrollment at Lexington Catholic from 325 to over 750 students. The buildings and grounds were expanded, adding classrooms, a garden with fountain, a baseball field, a field house, weight room, a practice field, and bleachers. He greatly improved and expanded the athletics program, including instituting a football team. In honor of all he did for the school, Lexington Catholic built the Robert J. Bueter, S.J. Athletic Center in 2000. After his assignment at LCHS, Fr. Bueter pursued a doctorate, and generously served the various works in service of the Catholic church and his brother Jesuits; most notably as associate director of the Lumen Christi Institute (2003-2006), and as the associate director of Xavier University’s Center for Catholic Education. In 2013, Bob eagerly returned to Lexington Catholic at the request of then president, Dr. Steve Angelucci, where he served as a consultant in the advancement office. Current LCHS president, Sandra Young, had even carved out a space for him in her office, so he would have a place to work when he came in. He was still working on ways to increase alumni and past parent involvement in the school to the end. In appreciation of all of his efforts on behalf of the school, a celebration of life service was held in the Bueter Gym on January 15, bringing together his family, friends, and the LCHS community to remember and honor Fr. Bueter’s lasting impact on the school and on our lives. Bob is survived by his two sisters (Mary and Kathy), one brother (Bernie), and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, who affectionately knew him as “Bobby.” He is mourned by the entire Lexington Catholic community.