Gwendolyn Mahoney Bucher

March 5, 1913 - October 28, 2020

RANCHO BERNARDO — Gwendolyn Mahoney Bucher was born in Majenica, Indiana, on March 5, 1913, to Mitchel and Mary Mahoney, and lived to the age of 107 years and seven months.

Gwen, a musical prodigy with perfect pitch, learned to read music and play the piano at age three before learning to read at age five. Gwen studied piano throughout her school years, including seven years at the European School of Music at Fort Wayne. She graduated from Huntington,

Indiana High School with honors at age 17. Upon graduation from high school, Gwen was awarded a scholarship to study piano at the Cincinnati Collegeconservatory of Music with Albino Gorno, who was considered one of the foremost piano teachers in the world at the time.

While in Cincinnati, Gwen was interested not only in classical music, but was attracted to the Big Band sound of Benny Goodwin, George Gershwin, and jazz. Gwen transposed music for

the band that played music for a Cincinnati radio station and was asked to join the group. She declined in favor of continuing her study of classical music.

Gwen met her husband, Columbus Charles Bucher, known as Clum, while in high school. They were married in 1932. Clum was a graduate of Indiana University and, after receiving a Master’s Degree, returned to Huntington to teach history and coach the football and basketball teams.

Gwen continued her piano studies at the Indiana University School of Music until Clum took a position with Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri. Gwen and Clum loved Columbia, but they returned to Indiana University where Clum accepted a professor and administrator position. Gwen was a member of the Faculty Club at IU, an avid bridge player, a golfer, and active in the United Methodist Women’s Organization. She served as a founder of the Alpha Phi sorority on IU’S campus and worked in the Foreign Student Division of Indiana University.

Clum and Gwen were avid travelers and moved to Rancho Bernardo upon retirement in 1972 to be close to their sons, Dr. David Bucher of Fallbrook and John Bucher of La Jolla.

Gwen was predeceased by her husband of 53 years, and her sister, June Broughton, of Sarasota, Florida. She is survived by her sons, David (Elizabeth Gray Bucher) and John (Jeannie Merry Bucher), four grandchildren, Steve, John, Brett, and Brooke, and seven greatgrandchildren, Sophie, Colton, Charolette, Helena, Anderson, Nina and Noel.