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Bill Thompson posted a condolence
Thursday, October 7, 2021
It all started about 64-years ago when we were 10-years old in Sr. Vincent's class at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic school in Daytona Beach. I remember John Buckley as a studious but smiling kid from Patterson, New Jersey. Since my family had lived near Morristown, NJ, and since I had moved to Florida from New York, we had some things in common and became friends.
One day, early on, John invited me to spend the night at his home, during which time he introduced me to MAD magazine - Alfred E. Newman = "What - Me worry?". We laughed at the cartoons and stories in that great magazine which exhibited a wry and distorted sense of humor - just perfect for us. Even at that young age, John, or Jack as his family called him, was a voracious reader. We both loved to read in Sr. Theresa's class, especially the Hardy Boys novels. Instead of focusing on school work, during class, we also read biographies, sports and science fiction, John, being an intellectual for his age, was a level or two above me in his choices. The Tin Drum was one of his favorites.
Later on, we developed an interest in professional wrestling. He would always stress that it was fake - they were just good athletes who were also good actors. To prod him a little, I would claim that it was all quite "real". One night, John drove us to the Welsh arena to watch a live match. The Great Malenko, supposedly a Russian, was the highlighter. I don't remember who won, but we had a great time yelling for his defeat. On the way home, for some unknown reason, a car with 3 older boys in it, followed us home to John's house - tailgating us. John was driving a station wagon. He told me to climb into the back and get the "tire iron" - the lug wrench. Still being harassed by the aggressors, John drove into the driveway of his home on Jamestown near Bellaire Plaza where he now lived with his mother, father and two sisters. The car pulled in behind us. John beeped the horn and his father, Art, came out and chased the "invaders" away. .Saved #1.
Another time, John had an old military-style Jeep - John wanted to "ride the dunes" in Ponce Inlet. It was a fun drive until the tie-rod broke and he couldn't steer it. We were stranded in the dunes. John knocked on the door of a near-by home, asked to use their phone and called his parents. They arranged for a tow truck to come and extricate us. Saved #2.
John and I had an unstated competition going on for many years - we debated on many topics. Which contributed more to the speed of a vehicle - horsepower or torque? Was the smoke that seemed to be drawn to the light of a projector really attracted to it or was it an illusion? Who was a better author - Steinbeck or Gunter Grass? Is Spanish a better choice than Greek as a language to study? And, of course, Wrestling - real or fake?
My first and only time enjoying a filet mignon sandwich came when John invited me to attend the annual company picnic hosted by Art's employer, Electro-Tec. The outing was held at Bert's Park on the St. John river next to DeLeon Springs. Another debate - were they shad or mullet?
Accompanied by my younger brother, Georgie, we fished in the Halifax River (is it a river or a lagoon, we argued); sought Blue Crabs in the Tomoka basin; skied in the Halifax with our friend Joe Bubenas.
Although we lost touch during our college days, we still connected during our HS reunions. My memories of John Buckley will always be fond. He danced to the beat of a different, although very talented, drummer. He was definitely NOT a follower. He took the road less travelled. He could be serious and opinionated but also knowledgeable, analytical and humorous. He was a true friend. I, and all who knew him, will miss his dearly. Oh, and he had a unique way of writing his "J"'s. Was it a "J" or a "G"?
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Norman Orel posted a condolence
Saturday, November 28, 2020
My condolences to John’s family. I didn’t get to know John until high school. He truly was his own person. I enjoyed his quick wit, often sarcastic. My best memories are of the times my wife and I visited him in Blowing Rock. He would show me his latest construction project. He truly embraced the ways of constructing in the mountains. He gave me a piece of advice about buying cabins up there, crawl under and see what the foundation was made of, it might be a rock or a tree stump. That was followed by a hearty laugh. God bless you and I’m sure we’ll all have a full class reunion one day.
Your friend,
Norman Orel ‘65
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Jim Grubiak posted a condolence
Wednesday, November 11, 2020
Sorry to hear about John’s passing. He was a funny guy but also an intellectual. I credit John for opening my eyes up to serious literature. For a time in high school, I read whatever novels he read, including books authored by Herman Hesse, Gunter Grass and Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. Thank you, John.
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Donna Prebis Lilly posted a condolence
Sunday, November 8, 2020
Jonh and I spent many after school hours together waiting for the public buses to get home from school. Since I lived in the less populated Wilbur by the Sea, my busses were “far and few between”. He would often let his bus pass to wait it out with me. We had a lot of fun, thoughtful conversations and I have always considered him a friend . Thankfully, we shared a dance at our 50th reunion so I have that additional fond memory of John. He was certainly one of a kind! You will be missed, my friend! Donna Prebis Lilly
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Suzy Buckley Gavin Posted Oct 2, 2021 at 12:22 PM
Hi Donna, I’m pretty sure John had the biggest crush on you. He must have enjoyed waiting for the bus too! He so looked forward to seeing you at the reunion and the dance with you made his day. Thank you so much for posting here. Love, Suzy Buckley GAVIN (Johns little sister)
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Dan Hogan uploaded photo(s)
Sunday, November 8, 2020
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I am saddened to hear of the passing of my classmate John Buckley ... he was truly one of a kind !
His humor was so appreciated including at our Father Lopez High School 50-Year Reunion in 2015.
My sincere condolences to his family, Dan Hogan
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Suzette Gavin Posted Nov 9, 2020 at 12:28 PM
Thanks for the post and the picture of the 50th. That’s the only picture I’ve seen from that event. I know he was really looking forward to it!
Sincerely, Suzy Buckley Gavin ( sister)
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Suzy Buckley Gavin Posted Oct 2, 2021 at 12:19 PM
Thank you so much for your kind words Dan. We miss him every day and he lives on in all of our hearts. Sincerely, Suzy, Mark, Joe, and Laura Gavin (Johns youngest sister) He was like a father to me when our father died suddenly, I was only 9 at the time and John was 14 years older than me.
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Joe Bubenas uploaded photo(s)
Saturday, August 29, 2020
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John and I were fortunate to get together in 2012 when I drove my mom up from Merritt Island to see John’s mom Laura, a dear friend of hers. Suzy was there also! We had a great time. John and I took the van and drove up and down the worlds most famous beach. We reminisced about our days in grade school, high school & college, the good and the bad. We talked about our lives since we last met, what we both have been doing. I was amazed to hear that he was living for a while in Boone, in a house he had built without power and heat… he just hadn’t gotten around to completing it. John was a true mountain man, he was not afraid to experiment with this, that, and the other thing. Perhaps most endearing about John was his mind, he was always reading books, thinking, and any time you spoke with him he always had a different view on what was happening and what life was about. I’m sure his bigger perspective has gone with his soul. We will all miss him!
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Suzy Buckley Gavin Posted Oct 2, 2021 at 12:26 PM
Hi Joe, what can I say. We go back such a long way, remember, you used to pick me up, upside down and pretend to flush me down the toilet. You and JOHN WERE BEST BUDDIES! So happy you got to see each other at Moms on Jamestown. We miss I’m and Mom so much, but hopefully they are all dancing somewhere. Love, Suzy
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Jeff LaCour posted a condolence
Wednesday, August 26, 2020
I will always think kindly of John for his uncompromising friendship!
Jeff LaCour
Joe Gavin posted a condolence
Monday, August 24, 2020
John Buckley (AKA Uncle Jack) was my closest uncle. My mom, my sister, and I would visit with him at least once a year since I was born. He would drive all the way down to Daytona beach Florida and spend time with us at my grandma's house. The memories I have of those times are very special to me and will never be forgotten. Uncle Jack is one of the first people I think of when I think of people who love me. He ALWAYS sent my sister and I a card on our birthdays and Christmas with a very thoughtful note inside. He had a lot of wisdom, he was funny, and he always had a kind, loving presence about him. I am so grateful he took such an active role as my uncle even though we lived so far apart. I wish I could have seen him a few more times before he passed. I'm glad to hear stories, learn more about him, and meet his friends here in North Carolina.
Rest in peace Uncle Jack. I will love you forever.
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Suzy Buckley Gavin lit a candle
Monday, August 24, 2020
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Bill Thompson posted a condolence
Sunday, August 23, 2020
It all started about 63 years ago when we were in 4th grade at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School with diminutive Sr. Vincent as our teacher. For some reason, we hit it off immediately. Both of us used to read books during class rather than pay attention to the lessons. John continued in life to be a voracious reader - the difference being that I was reading about baseball players and he was reading books with real meaning. He introduced me to MAD magazine and Alfred E. Newman- "What? Me Worry?". Perfect for John's sense of humor. Later on,while we were attending Fr. Lopez H.S., we found that we both loved to watch professional wrestling. He insisted that it was all fake and I, to jab him, told him that I believed it was real. One of our many disagreements.
One night, John had his driver's license and we attended a wrestling match out at the Welsh area of Daytona to watch the Great Malenko. On the way home, for some unknown reason, we were being followed and harassed by 3 or 4 guys in a car. We were in John's station wagon. As we neared John's house, he yelled at me to "get the tire iron". We pulled into his driveway and John beeped the horn and his father and mother, Art & Laura, came out and chased the intruders away. Whew! Good thinking on his part. Neither of had any idea why those guys were after us. They probably rooted against Malenko and he won.
Around that time, John's father's employer, Electrotec, organized a company party at Bert's Park, next to DeLeon Springs on the St. John's river. John invited me and that was the first, and only, time I had a filet mignon sandwich.
We did many other things together as we were growing up: Learning to water ski on the Halifax and the Tomoka rivers; Fishing, catching Blue Crabs, riding the dunes in Ponce Inlet in John's old jeep (we broke a tie-rod one time and had to be towed out);
He and I debated a lot: Was torque or horsepower more important in racing cars?; In chemistry class, we disagreed as to whether smoke followed the projector light or was it an illusion?; Wrestling - real or scripted entertainment; Gators or Hokies - which were better? Was he going to acknowledge my Christmas cards or not?
Later on, we went down different paths - John to Virginia Tech and I to UF, but we reunited at the reunions and didn't seem to miss a beat.
Now, as I think of John, I remember him as being honest and ethical to the core, a good and valued friend. A man with a depth of knowledge, a wonderful sense of humor and a tremendous vocabulary. He loved his parents and his siblings. In some ways, he danced to the beat of a different drummer. He definitely was not a follower. And, he wrote the "J" in his name (John or Jack) in a unique manner. RIP my friend. I'll never forget you.
Suzy Buckley Gavin Posted Aug 24, 2020 at 6:27 AM
Thank you for sharing those stories of your fun childhood. Most of them I never heard before. John was 14 years older than me and I missed out on being kids together. My sister Kathleen remembers you and your friendship with him. I’m sorry for your loss as well, and happy that you saw each other earlier this year, “one last time old friend” ...
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Tom Cooper posted a condolence
Saturday, August 22, 2020
John, or as Jack as I knew him, was a great bro-in-law. I considered him as a brother. RiP John.
Joyce Vernon posted a condolence
Saturday, August 22, 2020
John was such an interesting and fun person. He was a friend in high school and college who always had an interesting perspective on many subjects. Glad he made it to our 50th reunion. RIP John
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Gregory F Seibert posted a condolence
Saturday, August 22, 2020
An excellent obituary shows the great life that John lived and the special person that he was, I only saw him once since our high school days, so the info really filled in the blanks in a special way
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Laura lit a candle
Friday, August 21, 2020
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MARK GAVIN uploaded photo(s)
Friday, August 21, 2020
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⛵️ God bless you JACK, on your new adventure.
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Caprice Guidry lit a candle
Friday, August 21, 2020
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Kate Litzelman posted a condolence
Friday, August 21, 2020
Love and prayers for him and all his loved ones. xxoo
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Suzy Buckley Gavin posted a condolence
Friday, August 21, 2020
He was the best big brother I could have asked for. I loved him dearly and our family is heart broken. He had so many friends that loved and miss him too!
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The family of John Patrick Buckley uploaded a photo
Friday, August 21, 2020
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Austin & Barnes
Funeral Home and Crematory
194 Queen Street
Boone, North Carolina
28607
Phone: (828) 264-8888
Fax: (828) 264-8889
