In Memory

Lee M Buffington - Class Of 1947

Lee M Buffington

Lee Buffington, San Mateo County's former treasurer-tax collector for a quarter-century, died December 7, 2011 after a lengthy illness, leaving a legacy of completely modernizing the office and being an "independent spirit" and "dear, dear friend," according to his successor, Sandie Arnott.  Buffington, of Menlo Park, was 81 years old, born January 30, 1930.

Buffington fully automated the office from manual ledgers to computerized systems during his tenure and often served as a trailblazer for other counties and even nations looking to follow suit.

Lee held degrees from the University of California at Berkeley, a real estate broker's license, a teaching credential in industrial engineering and a pilot's license.  He held management positions with private companies and public entities before joining San Mateo County.  He was appointed treasurer-tax collector in June 1986 and elected in 1990.  He was continuously re-elected until his retirement and served as past president of the California Association of Tax Collectors and Treasurers.

Aside from work, he loved to read and had a soft spot for his pets.  He considered his wife his first love, even after she died in the 1990s.  Lee is survived by a daughter in Colorado and a grandson, Robert, who lives in Menlo Park.

Daily Post, December 9, 2011 and San Mateo Daily Journal, December 9, 2011