Erich H Buenger Obituary (2015)

Dr. Erich H. Buenger, of Montclair, was born in Germany in 1930 and died on January 11, 2015 in his home in New Jersey. He obtained his MBA from the University of Cologne and a Ph.D in International Economics from Graz University in Austria. Prior to joining the United Nations in New York in 1960, he had worked for several years in various executive positions with a German multinational corporation in many western European countries. At the UN, Dr. Buenger served UNICEF for thirty five years. As a Senior Director in the Executive Office, he oversaw organization-wide management issues, and directed various international departments. Erich often took the mantle of Executive Head (CEO), running UNICEF with its two hundred offices worldwide and its nine thousand employees from all over the globe. His extensive travels brought him to more than one hundred thirty countries in support of UNICEF's cause and activities which focus on improving the situation of children worldwide. He spent more than half of his time working in third world countries. Dr. Buenger was widely respected throughout UNICEF for his fairness and compassion, as well as his modesty and willingness to take on difficult assignments, which often required tremendous personal and professional courage. Surviving are his wife of fifty years, Heidi, his son Marc and his two daughters Usha and Anya, his grandsons Edgar, Brooks and Christian, his two granddaughters Annie and Grace and his sons-in-law Keith White and John Barrett. In lieu of flowers, donations to UNICEF are greatly appreciated. The family asks that all flowers be ordered through: Bartlett's Greenhouses and Florist 814 Grove Street, Clifton, NJ 07013 (973) 471-6480