It is with heavy heart that I report to you the passing of Leonard "Buster" Loewen, San Lorenzo High School Class of 1964. Buster, with reasons known only to him, took his own life on Saturday May 17, 2003.

While I didn't know Buster well in high school, many of his good friends were also mine. I got to know him again when we both lived in Hayward. Our wives worked together and my wife got to know Marla and their kids.

I'm going to jot my memories of Buster here. I welcome input from any that knew him. Some of the following will just be "teases". If you were there, it should kindle fond memories. If you weren't there, it's probably just as well. If anything here sounds negative toward Buster, it is not intended. If you knew him, you would understand what I mean. If you didn't know him, no amount of explanation could describe him to you. As his best friend just said to me, "He was one of a kind." Truer words were never spoken.

Buster's appearance and demeanor wouldn't give you a hint of the brilliance that was within him. He acted like God had forgotten to tighten the last screw. He would do anything for a laugh, and I can't remember ever seeing him without a smile.

Those that knew him only in high school might be surprised to know that he became both an optometrist and a lawyer. Even in his professional years, I saw him many times riding around Hayward on his old bicycle, wearing worn tennis shoes or sandals, faded jeans, and shirts that looked like Goodwill rejects. When I would say, "hello", he would smile and greet me like we were best friends.

Many of us remember Buster as half of "Tom and Buster's Car Club". Buster and his best friend, Tom English, would do things with their vehicles that "normal" people wouldn't dream of. Buster's white '55 Chevy was easily recognizable because of the repairs that he did on the roof, using a ball-peen hammer.

And then there was that day of the riot on the beach at Santa Cruz. Buster was having his usual good time, dancing with a young lady (my sister, Linda). One of the local surfers sought to cut in. Buster, always the gentleman, said no. Have you ever seen anybody hit over the head with a wine bottle, like in the movies? Well, that's what happened to Buster. A whole bunch of "locals" started throwing punches at everybody. The melee hadn't gone on for long before we were surrounded by a hundred or more uniformed police.

In the confusion, we had "lost" Buster and Tom. When we reported this to the police, they asked, "What does he look like?" Gary McLerran said, "He looks like Burt Lancaster." Well, he did kinda look like Burt, but the cops figured that Gary was just a smart-ass, half-drunk kid (he probably was). They loaded us into our cars and escorted us to the county line.

We didn't know until that evening whether Buster and Tom were alive or not. I visited with them at Tom's house that night and noted their wounds. Besides the cuts, bruises, and black eye, all I remember is the laughs we had over the incident.

I don't know anybody that knew Buster that didn't like him. He will be missed by all of us, especially by his five children.

The following are e-mail messages that I have received about Buster:

I would never have thought he would go out this way. He was one of a kind! Man, I just keep erasing whatever I'm saying and start over, but all I really know is it's not much fun being the only member in a car club. Your Friend, Tom (English)

Well, I would have rather said goodbye to him in person, but I guess we'll have to salute to him at Sea Ranch.
Al Kile
(The reference is to a group of friends that have gotten together for years- Don)

Truely sad news.
I was just talking to my wife about him a couple of days ago. He was such a smart individual and seemed to enjoy life. I haven't seen or talked to him since a past reunion. I hope he's at peace...
We loved him, his memory will live on,
Gary Mc Lerran

The kids are grown, the youngest still in college, and you can imagine how this has hit them. They were very brave yesterday, and it broke my heart to see them, including the 3 girls, carrying their dad's casket. I didn't see any of Leonard's old friends at the funeral, I don't know that the kids were able to get in touch, or even think about getting in touch with anyone. Since Marla and Buster divorced some years ago, perhaps the kids just weren't in contact with his old friends. I haven't seen him in several years. The kids are all very close to each other, and I hope that will help them come to terms with what has happened.
Sherry (McDaniel) Murray

-Don Goard, May 29, 2003