Alvin BUCKMAN

1941 - 2017

BUCKMAN, Alvin Bruce A. Bruce Buckman, husband, father, grandfather, scientist, professor, expert witness, UT football and basketball fan, friend, neighbor, Kappa Sig, swimmer, golfer, margarita maker, voracious reader, world traveler, and handy man was born in Omaha, Nebraska as the Pearl Harbor bombs fell on December 7, 1941. Adopted by Al and Clara Buckman, his beloved parents, he grew up in Carter Lake, Iowa, a quiet Omaha suburb where he roamed free and fished with his little boat on the lake a block from his house. He graduated from Omaha Central High School, received a bachelor's degree from MIT, and completed his Master's and Ph.D. at the University of Nebraska. While at NU he met and married Carole Duncan, a marriage that lasted 50 years and 11 months. Nick Bashara, his revered Ph.D. advisor, convinced him to begin his career as a professor at the University of Nebraska. Daughters Jackie and Jill were born during the 5 years he taught at NU. In 1974 Bruce was offered a tenured position at the University of Texas. For 35 years he enjoyed teaching and research at UT. He began a second career as an expert witness in patent lawsuits that he found fascinating and fun. He worked at it until his lung disease flared a year ago. For the last year he struggled to breathe and fight his disease. Bruce was active in St. Austin Catholic Church, for many years coordinating, with Carole, the Sponsor Couple marriage preparation program. He also participated in a centering group that met weekly. His faith was strong. Predeceasing him were his parents, Clara and Al, Carole's parents, Charles and Florence Duncan. Surviving him are his wife, Carole, daughters Jackie and husband Van Hutto, and Jill and husband Jeff Collins, and grandchildren Blakely Hutto Calvert and husband Blake, Forrest Hutto, and Kelly, Thomas, and Charlotte Collins. We would like to thank Dr. Paul Harford and his partners and the staff of Seton Hospital for their compassionate care of Bruce. And we thank our many friends and neighbors who stepped in to help us. Visitation will begin at 7pm on Tuesday, May 23rd with Rosary at 8pm at Cook-Walden Funeral Home, 6100 N. Lamar Blvd, Austin, Texas. Funeral services will be 11:00am with following reception at St. Austin Catholic Church, 2026 Guadalupe Street, Austin, Texas. To honor Bruce, his family is making a gift in his name to the Cockrell School of Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to The University of Texas at Austin, Attn: Rachel Tedesco, 301 E. Dean Keaton St., Stop C2104 (ECJ 10.316), Austin, TX 78712. Contributions can also be made online at http://www.engr.utexas.edu/giving. Please include "In memory of Dr. Buckman" on the comments.