Barrington Hills mourns death of Trustee Buettner
Family, friends and colleagues are mourning the loss of Barrington Hills Trustee Debra Ann Buettner, who died unexpectedly late last week at the age of 60.
Born in Elgin and raised in North Barrington, Buettner was a Barrington High School graduate who moved to Barrington Hills in 1991 with her husband, James Hammond.
Buettner was in her first term as a village trustee, bringing her professional experience as a tax and transactional attorney to that role, as well as in her prior position as an appointed member of the village's zoning board of appeals.
Village President Brian Cecola reflected on her contributions to the community in a written statement.
"Deb has been a friend for a number of years," Cecola said. "I personally got to know her in 2015 during my first election campaign for village trustee. I was elated when I learned Deb decided to run in 2019 for village trustee, as I knew she would make an excellent board member."
The strengths she brought to her local government roles were personal as well as professional, he added.
"Deb was very detailed and knowledgeable," Cecola said. "Her heart was with the residents. She was always willing to listen to people and constantly wore a smile. She will definitely be missed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her husband, Jim, and her family,"
In addition to her husband, Buettner is survived by older brothers Kenneth, Paul and Glen.
Buettner had a passion for cooking and animals, but she found peace in gardening. She visited area nurseries and took weeks off work during the growing season each year to care for her vegetable and flower gardens.
She met her husband, a fellow Barrington High School graduate, on a blind date in 1987. They were engaged six weeks later and wed in April 1988, initially residing in Barrington.
Buettner earned her bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Arizona, her certificate as a certified public accountant from the University of Illinois, and her law degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law.
She was recruited by Price Waterhouse in Chicago to work in its international tax division. But in 1992, she started her own law practice in South Barrington with a specialty in finance.
Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday at Davenport Family Funeral Home, 149 W. Main St. in Barrington, with a private service immediately afterward. A public celebration of her life will take place at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to the National Audubon Society.