T. GARRY BUCKLEY

T. GARRY BUCKLEY - STOWE - Former Vermont Lt. Gov. T. Garry Buckley, 89, residing in Stowe, died May 23, 2012, after a short illness. He was born on Sept. 13, 1922, in Albany, N.Y., the son of Margaret and Christopher H. Buckley. He was elected Lieutenant Governor for the State of Vermont in 1976, preceded by a number of terms as Bennington County State Senator. Known as T.G. Buckley, he spent his early childhood years in Albany, where his father owned movie theatres. In what was then a colorful world of the Hollywood movie era, major Hollywood stars would pass through Albany when their films opened under the grand marquee. Buckley related that this had been an exciting time for him as a young boy. When he was a teenager, Mr. Buckley's family moved to Bennington, where it owned the General Stark Theatre. After the death of Mr. Buckley's father, his mother managed the movie theatre, and she went on to become the oldest graduate of Bennington College, at age 64. Mr. Buckley attended the Albany Academy for Boys, The Cranwell School and Brown University. He was a Veteran of World War II, where he served as an Army Corps glider pilot. He served as a selectman for Old Bennington, then as a Town of Bennington selectman, and then served for many years as State Senator from Bennington County while continuing his real estate business based in Bennington. In 1980, he retired to Florida while spending summers in Vermont. Two years ago he returned to live full time in Stowe, where he was surrounded by many loving family members and friends, and fully enjoyed life with his wife, Hesterly, her family and their four dogs, Neva, Moxie, Truffles and Mickey, as well their parrot, Toto. He is survived by his wife, Hesterly B. Buckley; his children, T. Garry Buckley Jr., David Buckley, Katharine Buckley, Peter Buckley, and Jonathan Buckley; stepchildren, John C. Black, Jennifer St. Sauveur, Hesterly B. Goodson, and Benjamin F. Black; grandchildren, Lydia, Caroline, and Elliot Buckley; stepgrandchildren, Sam, Anna, and Jack Black, Gwen and Angela St. Sauveur, Matthew and Kelsey Goodson, and McKenna and Alyson Black; sister, Jane Buckley Chapman; and brother, Bill Buckley and wife, Judith A. Hamer. He was predeceased by his brothers, Christopher and James; and his first wife, Frances Littlefield Buckley. Memorial services will be held at The Old First Church in Old Bennington, at a date to be announced, In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: The Governor's Institutes of Vermont, 4049 Williston Road, South Burlington, VT 05403, Tel.: 802-865-4448, http://www.giv.org/. This program provides summer enrichment programs for high school students on Vermont college campuses.