Longboat Key Obituaries: Jan. 4, 2018

William Bruckner 

William Bruckner, 79, of Longboat Key and Boston, died Dec. 24.

Mr. Bruckner was a financial analyst and stock broker on Wall Street and in Sarasota. In 1989, he and his wife, the former Grethe R. Boe, moved to Longboat Key but recently moved to Massachusetts to be closer to family. They had been married since 1964. The Bruckners had two daughters, Heidi and Lisa, whom they raised in Pelham Manor, N.Y. Mr. Bruckner enjoyed sailing, skiing and traveling and was close with his sister, Herta, and friend Jerry Waldman. Mr. Bruckner is survived by his wife, Grethe Bruckner, his daughter Heidi, and son-in-law Kurt Fliegauf, his daughter Lisa, and son-in-law David Gast, and his grandchildren, Erik Fliegauf, Matthew Fliegauf, Andrew Gast, and Zoe Gast. He is also survived by his sister, Herta Tishcoff along with many cousins, nieces and nephews. His family would like to acknowledge the doctors and nurses at Mass General Cancer Center. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to a local food bank or to Mass General, 55 Fruit St. Boston, MA, 02144.

Thomas Buffett 

Thomas Buffett, 81, died Dec. 13. He was a longtime resident of Sarasota and Longboat Key.

Mr. Buffett was born in Grand Bank, Newfoundland and Labrador, in 1936, one of seven children. Following his undergraduate studies, he attended MIT, where he was a four-letter athlete in soccer, hockey, lacrosse and sailing. He received an engineering degree and took his first job with Strategic Air Command in Greenland, eventually earning an MBA before starting an entrepreneurial career in Spain. In 1974, he became a major shareholder in the fledgling company Automated Security Holdings in the United Kingdom. Under his leadership, the company grew to become a leading security firm in Europe, and Mr. Buffett was awarded in 1990 with the Freedom of the City of London commendation. Upon retirement, Mr. Buffett and his wife, Karin, moved to the Sarasota area and he co-founded Gemesis Corp., which produces man-made diamonds. Mr. Buffett is survived by his wife, children Marcus and Natalie, four siblings and many friends. A celebration of his life is planned for 4 p.m. Feb. 5 at the Longboat Key Club’s Harbourside Ballroom.

Edward Fenton

Edward Fenton, 90, died Dec. 21.

Mr. Fenton was a resident of Longboat Key.

Lola Hoenig

Lola Hoenig, 94, died Dec. 22

Mr. Hoenig and her husband of more than 60 years, Dr. Theodore Hoenig, raised their three children in Harrison, N.Y. As a resident of Longboat Key, she spent time with her sister Phyllis Garlick. In recent years, Ms. Hoenig lived with her daughter Ellen and family in Princeton, N.J. Lola was a reading specialist in the Harrison Public School System and was an avid skier and tennis player. She is survived by daughters Dr. Karen Hoenig Rigamonti and Ellen Hoenig.