Terrence R. " Terry " Buckno

Terry’s Epitaph
In his own words...

"He was one-of-a-kind and not for everyone. But, if he loved you, you were loved fiercely and unconditionally. His family was always his priority"

Terry R. Buckno, 82, went home to the God-universe and his savior, Jesus Christ, on Monday April 6, 2026 at 8:46 a.m. at Phoebe, Allentown. There, he was lovingly cared for by the Phoebe team and St. Luke’s VNA Hospice, Bethlehem.

Terry was married to BettyJean (Gray) Buckno for 51 years. He was an English teacher in the Allentown School District, at Dieruff High School, for 35 years, retiring in 2003. To his students, he was known as “Brother Buck.” He was also an assistant wrestling coach under Lehigh Valley Hall of Famer, Art Schaeffer. Terry was the head wrestling coach at Dieruff from 1977 – 1980. He graduated from Mansfield State College in 1968. While there, he played football and ran track. He was a charter member of Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity. He completed graduate work toward his Master’s Equivalency at Kutztown University, Marywood College and Penn State University.

Born in Allentown, PA, Terry was the son of the late Raymond and Anna (Boycheck) Buckno. He was a graduate of Whitehall High School where he proudly represented the Zephyrs on the gridiron. For many years, he attended Saint Mary’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church, his childhood church, in Allentown. After his marriage to BettyJean, they were members of Lower Saucon United Church of Christ in Hellertown, PA. There, he taught Sunday School and confirmation classes. Terry also served as the volunteer chairperson for the annual Crop Walk for Hunger Relief (both globally and locally) from 1982 – 1996. During his tenure, the Hellertown Community raised $67,000. While at LSUCC, he supported his wife and daughter, Kristen, who managed the original Red Door Pre-School. He proudly served as the school’s “Lunch Lad,”

Terry is survived by his wife, BettyJean (Gray) Buckno, Allentown; twin brother, Raymond, Allentown; Daughter, Kristen Elizabeth Buckno and her spouse, Karol DiPasquale, Allentown; Son, Matthew Paul Buckno and his partner, Courtney Cox, Nazareth, PA; four grandchildren whom he adored – Lillianna, Jude, Bodhi and Coltyn, all of Nazareth; niece, Lesley Gray and her partner Eddie Cooley of Pennsburg, PA; Lauren Buckno, Nashville, TN; nephew, Joshua Buckno, Washington, DC; niece, Suzanne Gray, Winston-Salem, North Carolina; great nieces Kassie Gray of NC and Grace Cooley of Pennsburg; great nephew Konor Gray of NC; great-great nephew Waylon Seal and great-great niece, Addie Seal, both of NC. Terry was pre-deceased by his oldest daughter, April, who died in 2011 and by his nephew, Eric Gray, who died in 2023.

From Terry’s Family
If you knew him, then you understood that he was larger than life. He was a character. His raucous laugh was contagious. He always said, “I’m not for everybody.” Whatever he did, he did with gusto, exuberance, and passion. Most of all, he loved BettyJean. His unconditional love for his children was evident to his last breath. And don’t get us started about how he adored his grandchildren! He was omnipresent, offering whatever help he could, while at the same time, doing a brilliant job of charging them up, and then leaving for home! He was generous, funny, and wore his emotions on his sleeve.

In all truthfulness, he was as much a goofball as he was an expert in Shakespearean literature and sonnets, and grammar. He could quote from memory the scores of every Penn State football game since the 60’s. He knew the stats of any Lehigh Valley high school or college wrestler. And yet, he didn’t know how he liked his eggs cooked and would have to ask his wife every time. He would share “facts” about the animal kingdom at family holiday dinners in the Poconos. We still don’t know what was true and what was contrived.

He didn’t hesitate to share his opinions, and that was both good and not-so-good. If he believed in something, despite what anyone else thought, he was immoveable. For many years, he and BJ cared for the children of any Red Door family who asked. They stayed for the day, a few days, or the week, and took care of those kids like they were their own. He also helped himself with whatever was in the fridge or cupboard.

After retiring, he and BJ moved to Rehoboth Beach, DE...their long-time dream. There, he worked part-time in the deli at the local Giant, questioning customers as to why they would ever eat liverwurst, taking home the ends of the sliced deli meats (we don’t waste food,) and helping himself to the pickle barrel.
Terry battled lymphoma for nearly 4 years. He went to his chemo treatments at St. Luke’s Sacred Heart Hospital without complaint. He endured setbacks, hospitalizations, and failed treatments. As was typical, when his infusion session was over, he’d say to whomever drove him and picked him up, “Shall we go to Yocco’s? I’m buying!” And off they’d go.

Our family would like to extend our gratitude to the following:

• Phoebe Ministries, Trexler 2W team members, Allentown
• St. Luke’s VNA Hospice, Bethlehem
• St. Luke’s Hematology/Oncology –
Tamam Habib, MD and Amanda Fulmore, PA-C
• St. Luke’s Infusion Center Staff at Sacred Heart
• St. Luke’s Palliative Care - Alice
• Lehigh Cardiology – Nidhi Mehta, MD and Laura Dohm, PA-C
• Jay Gilbert, Susan, Patti, and the Staff of the Gilbert Funeral Home

To our countless family members and friends, thank you for sharing your time, energy and commitment to both dad and mom. Thanks for schlepping whatever he wanted - whenever he wanted it...hot and sour soup from Lily Sushi, Yocco’s hot dogs, French onion soup from the Parkland Restaurant, sandwiches from Syb’s, and of course, personal pizza from Hops at the Paddock. He certainly had a knack for requesting his favorites. You know what I could go for? Fill in the blank...

Memorial Contributions in Terry’s name are suggested to The Reverend Anne G. Huey Framework of Meaning Endowment Fund for Education in Hospice Care at St. Luke's University Health Network, an enduring legacy of all that his friend, Anne held true.

Online donations at https://www.slhn.org/development/ways-to-give/huey?bclid=IwAR2KLFtoGejanQ7imThoL2NNIWWW5kLldI9pQUHOsaLtRk2FlnmH03N1. Checks to SLUHB can be mailed to SLUHN Development Office, 748 Ostrum St., Bethlehem, PA 18015. (Please write Anne Huey Endowment in the memo)
All amounts are meaningful.

Love sought is good; but given unsought, is better.

William Shakepeare
Twelfth Night