Golden Bobcat Passes Away
2/9/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Edward Buzzetti, a member of Montana State's Golden Bobcat National Championship team of 1929, died on February 5 in Missoula.
Buzzetti joined his fellow Golden Bobcats as part of MSU's inaugural Wendy's MSU Athletics Hall of Fame induction class. While a student at Montana State he was active in a wide variety of activities, and served as Senior Class President. He graduated from the Bozeman school in 1931.
Below is Mr. Buzzetti's obituary, as it appeared in the Bozeman Chronicle on February 8.
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Obituary for EDWARD J. BUZZETTI
Edward J. Buzzetti, 96, died Saturday, Feb. 5, 2005, at St. Patrick's Hospital, surrounded by his family.
He was born March 12, 1908, at Fromberg to Emma and Tony Buzzetti. The family moved to Hardin in 1924, and Ed graduated from Hardin High School in 1926.
He entered Montana State College (now MSU) in the fall of 1927. He was a member of the 1929 Golden Bobcat basketball team, which was crowned national champions that year. He also lettered in track. He was class president in 1931 and was a member of Sigma Chi.
Ed married Kathryn Kelley of Hardin in 1932. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.
Ed taught and coached at Circle for four years before moving to Missoula in 1936. He retired from teaching in 1971, after 35 years at Missoula County High School. While at MCHS, Ed coached basketball, football and track. He was head basketball coach for six years, winning state titles in 1947 and 1949. He was athletic director from 1952 to 1956.
He was a member of the Montana State Championship baseball team in 1937, while playing for the University Store. Ed was the recipient of the Ray Rocene Sportsman of the Year award in 1969.
Ed kept in touch with many of his former students and enjoyed attending their class reunions. He continued his involvement in sports after retirement, running the clock at track meets and basketball games. He enjoyed watching his great-grandson's football and basketball games.
Ed was a lifetime member of the National Education Association, the Montana Education Association, BPOE Elks No. 383 and the Coffee Club. He headed the Poverello Center food drive at St. Anthony's Catholic Church for 20 years. He enjoyed fly fishing, bowling, pinochle and poker games. He enjoyed summers in Wyoming for 75 years, hosting family and friends at the KBK on the Little Big Horn River.
He was affectionately known as "Grumpy" to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. At 95, he was an honored guest at his great-grandson's high school graduation.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Kathryn in 1983; his parents; brothers, Ray and Jack; and sisters, Irene and Helen Jean.
Ed is survived by his daughter, Ruth Kradolfer of Missoula; son, Tony and his wife, Lois of Columbia, S.C.; five grandchildren, Cathy and Steve Redfern of Deer Lodge, Cheryl and Bob Tailfeathers of Browning, Lyle Kradolfer of Angoon, Alaska, Anthony and Karen Buzzetti of Lexington, S.C., and Marylou and Brian Stinson of Columbia, S.C.; eight great-grandchildren, Ed and Crystal Tailfeathers, Carson Bender and Taylor Redfern, Kaelyn and Kennedy Buzzetti, and Ben and James Stinson; and several cousins, nieces and nephews, including Kristine and Rick Larson of Missoula.
He is also survived by three sisters-in-law, Janice Hall of Missoula, Ruth Kelley of Billings, and Virginia Wertz of Little Rock, Ark.
The body has been cremated. At his request, private burial services will be held at a later date.
Memorials are suggested to Church of St. Anthony, Missoula Poverello Center, and Montana State University.
"I give you what no thief can steal,
the memories of our times together ...
for my roots and yours are forever intertwined."
Buzzetti joined his fellow Golden Bobcats as part of MSU's inaugural Wendy's MSU Athletics Hall of Fame induction class. While a student at Montana State he was active in a wide variety of activities, and served as Senior Class President. He graduated from the Bozeman school in 1931.
Below is Mr. Buzzetti's obituary, as it appeared in the Bozeman Chronicle on February 8.
================================
Obituary for EDWARD J. BUZZETTI
Edward J. Buzzetti, 96, died Saturday, Feb. 5, 2005, at St. Patrick's Hospital, surrounded by his family.
He was born March 12, 1908, at Fromberg to Emma and Tony Buzzetti. The family moved to Hardin in 1924, and Ed graduated from Hardin High School in 1926.
He entered Montana State College (now MSU) in the fall of 1927. He was a member of the 1929 Golden Bobcat basketball team, which was crowned national champions that year. He also lettered in track. He was class president in 1931 and was a member of Sigma Chi.
Ed married Kathryn Kelley of Hardin in 1932. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.
Ed taught and coached at Circle for four years before moving to Missoula in 1936. He retired from teaching in 1971, after 35 years at Missoula County High School. While at MCHS, Ed coached basketball, football and track. He was head basketball coach for six years, winning state titles in 1947 and 1949. He was athletic director from 1952 to 1956.
He was a member of the Montana State Championship baseball team in 1937, while playing for the University Store. Ed was the recipient of the Ray Rocene Sportsman of the Year award in 1969.
Ed kept in touch with many of his former students and enjoyed attending their class reunions. He continued his involvement in sports after retirement, running the clock at track meets and basketball games. He enjoyed watching his great-grandson's football and basketball games.
Ed was a lifetime member of the National Education Association, the Montana Education Association, BPOE Elks No. 383 and the Coffee Club. He headed the Poverello Center food drive at St. Anthony's Catholic Church for 20 years. He enjoyed fly fishing, bowling, pinochle and poker games. He enjoyed summers in Wyoming for 75 years, hosting family and friends at the KBK on the Little Big Horn River.
He was affectionately known as "Grumpy" to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. At 95, he was an honored guest at his great-grandson's high school graduation.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Kathryn in 1983; his parents; brothers, Ray and Jack; and sisters, Irene and Helen Jean.
Ed is survived by his daughter, Ruth Kradolfer of Missoula; son, Tony and his wife, Lois of Columbia, S.C.; five grandchildren, Cathy and Steve Redfern of Deer Lodge, Cheryl and Bob Tailfeathers of Browning, Lyle Kradolfer of Angoon, Alaska, Anthony and Karen Buzzetti of Lexington, S.C., and Marylou and Brian Stinson of Columbia, S.C.; eight great-grandchildren, Ed and Crystal Tailfeathers, Carson Bender and Taylor Redfern, Kaelyn and Kennedy Buzzetti, and Ben and James Stinson; and several cousins, nieces and nephews, including Kristine and Rick Larson of Missoula.
He is also survived by three sisters-in-law, Janice Hall of Missoula, Ruth Kelley of Billings, and Virginia Wertz of Little Rock, Ark.
The body has been cremated. At his request, private burial services will be held at a later date.
Memorials are suggested to Church of St. Anthony, Missoula Poverello Center, and Montana State University.
"I give you what no thief can steal,
the memories of our times together ...
for my roots and yours are forever intertwined."
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