Malcolm E. Buchanan

April 8, 1935 - February 5, 2023

SAN DIEGO — Malcolm Estes Buchanan, or “Meb” as he was always known, passed peacefully at his home on Sunday, February 5, 2023. He was born in San Francisco on April 8, 1935, to Mrs. Eileen and Lt. Col. Malcolm Buchanan.

His childhood was punctuated by stints on various airbases in accordance with his father’s military career. He spent the majority of his early life in Redwood City, and graduated from Sequoia High School in 1952, where he was a standout athlete. He then went on to play football at the University of Oregon, before pausing his studies to join the Army in 1954. Upon his return from West Germany, where he served as a radio intercept operator, Meb resumed his studies at San Jose State, where he met Mary Williams and ultimately graduated with a degree in Business Administration. Meb and Mary wed in 1959 and had two sons, Mark and Matthew. In 1977, he married fellow Sequoia High graduate Jeanne Leffler (Gandrud), and the two spent many years living in San Jose, before ultimately settling in San Diego, where they enjoyed a strong connection to family and a wide circle of friends from their church and neighborhood. in any way he could, and served multiple terms as president of his homeowners association. Gracious and goodhumored, Meb was a gentleman whose vibrant personality uplifted those around him.

Meb was preceded in death by his wife Jeanne and her daughter Deanna, his sisters Betty and Jean, and niece Kimberly. He is survived by sons Mark and Matthew, granddaughter Jessica, nieces and nephews Michael, Valerie, John, David, Catherine, Mary, and Richard, as well as his children by marriage Rick (Priscilla) and Debbie (Clyde), grandchildren Scott (Melissa) and Koree (Chris), and greatgrandchildren Hanna, Fiona, Samuel, Caroline, and William. He will be sorely missed by so many who knew and loved him, though he is undoubtedly smiling down upon them.