It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Kitchener musician Adam Buschlen on February 10, 2024. Our condolences to his family, friends & fans. Adam was a talented solo artist, studio musician, instructor, bassist, guitarist and singer-songwriter.
From his obituary:
With great sadness we announce that Adam passed away unexpectedly at Quinte Health North Hastings Hospital on Saturday, February 10, 2024 at the age of 50.
Beloved husband of Renata Valaitis. Proud and devoted father of Liam, Shona, and Edward. Cherished son of Donna and the late David, and son-in-law of Ruta and Vytas Valaitis. Dear brother of Jeff (Tammy) and Joanne (Eric Clarkson). Beloved brother-in-law to Krista and Steve. Proud uncle of Adam (and Elizabeth), Zac (and Amy), Ben (and Wes), Laura, Nick (and Amy), Corey (and Maria), Mila, Hannah, and great-uncle to Jax and Miles. Will also be sadly missed by many uncles, aunts, and cousins.
Adam's contributions to the KW music community and beyond were immeasurable as an educator and professional musician. He was loved by his students, fellow musicians, and everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or the Community Music School of Waterloo Region would be appreciated.
Visit www.henrywalser.com to view Adam's memorial.
Social Media Reaction
I’m so grateful to have known your sweet soul and called you friend, Adam. Thank you for opening your heart to us and showing us the meaning of kindness, love and family. I’ll carry with me the special memories, the beautiful music and the joy, light and laughter you so freely gave to everyone.
We shared a love of Tom Petty and I always loved singing Walls with you, it always felt like singin’ with a brother, like you had my back. Love you Busch ❤️
“Cause you got a heart so big it could crush this town and I can’t hold out forever even walls fall down”
Sean O'Grady (drummer)
On Saturday we lost a beautiful character named Adam Buschlen. When I say character, I don’t mean to minimize him as a man, but there was just no one like him, and he was the embodiment of the expression, “To know him, was to love him.”
Adam played the bass and sang. I got to play with him many times over the years in different bands and always loved it. He thought outside the box with a bass in his hands and he could get away with some adventurous voyages up and down the neck that would always leave me inspired and marvelling at how he had just gotten away with it. Sometimes I think he was just as surprised as I was.
He was a proud and devoted father, loved his beautiful wife Renate, and in the middle of a busy, hectic life, he just decided to enroll in university and study classical music and the upright bass. I couldn’t wait to pepper him with questions about what he was studying and he was only too glad to talk about it. His eyes would widen into saucers as he wondered if he could handle the course load and the expectations – which he always did.
Adam loved to laugh and getting him riled up was effortless. He loved grabbing a beer,
( “Sean it doesn’t make us bad guys.”), catching up at the bar, and talking about Paul Chambers or whoever he was checking out at the time. Locally he was a massive fan of bass players like Steve Hogg and Paul Intson. At a party a few months ago, I dragged him over to talk to Paul and he was like a kid who couldn’t believe he was hanging with Batman or The Terminator.
Here’s the part nobody gets. Years before the university adventure, he studied martial arts and got a black belt in karate. As a result he was healthy as a horse and strong as two oxen! I never knew that he was fighting cancer, but if I HAD known, I wouldn’t have been worried because Adam was a walking brick. Hugging him was like wrestling granite.
Adam was a light. A bright, unpretentious, humble, mischievous light that I never imagined would stop shining so soon. I’ve been thinking about him ever since I found out on Sunday morning and it was such a shock, that the weight of his loss hasn’t totally hit me yet.
Rest In Peace brother. The world owes you nothing because you single handedly made it a better place.
No words to describe the loss of Adam Buschlen. An absolute pillar of local music, and an even better human being.
Rest in peace, Bush-league. You'll be fondly remembered, Bro.
Video above courtesy of adam buschlen
Video above courtesy of adam buschlen
Links: Adam Buschlen, More Adam Buschlen Stories, Video above courtesy of adam buschlen
Previous (Former Forgotten Rebel Mark Chewton Passes) - - - Next (Rev. John Holland Award Winners)
Posts
