RICHARD D. BUCKLEY

BUCKLEY-- Richard D. 74, passed away on Sunday July 31st at Stony Brook University Hospital, after suffering a brain hemorrhage while at his home in Quogue, NY. Mr. Buckley was Chairman of the company that bears his name. He built Buckley Radio into an industry leader as one of America's last remaining privately owned and operated radio companies. Buckley Radio owns and operates seventeen radio stations across the country, including the flagship station WOR 710AM in New York City. WOR is the legendary New York City station, which features such celebrated broadcasters as John Gambling and Joan Hamburg and also is the voice of Mayor Michael Bloomberg's weekly radio address. Radio Ink Publisher Eric Rhoads said, “Rick loved radio and his people so much that he resisted the temptation of being acquired by the bigger corporations because he knew his stations were best served in the hands of someone who put the basics of localism and entertainment first.� Joe Bilotta, Chief Operating Officer of Buckley Radio, who has worked for Buckley for forty-two years, said of Rick, “There was no more impassioned leader than Rick Buckley. He led the company in a way that reflected the family nature of his business.� It has been said that Rick carried himself with a humility and self-effacing wit that endeared him to everyone in the industry. Just one month ago, Rick stood before the New York State Broadcasters' Association to accept membership in their Hall of Fame. Rick's words stood out for his passion about radio and his love of his family and company. A native New Yorker, born and raised in Bronxville, Rick began his career in 1960 as a page at NBC. Buckley Radio was founded in the mid-1950's by his father, Richard D. Buckley, Sr. as an independently owned radio broadcasting company. Following his father's death in 1972, Rick became president of the company. Rick was a past Chairman of the Board of the Radio Advertising Bureau, a Past Chairman of the Board of the Southern California Broadcasters' Association, and at the time of his death was the Treasurer of the Broadcasters' Foundation of America. He was also a past member of the Board of Trustees at his alma mater, the University of Miami, and a member of the President's Council. Rick was instrumental in establishing the Richard D. Buckley audio lab at the University of Miami School of Communications. Rick was an avid fisherman and boater and past Commodore of the Shinnecock Yacht Club. He had a life-long love of the ocean and spending time at the beach in Quogue, NY, where he enjoyed much of the past forty summers. He was a Patriot who took great pride in the nation's Armed Forces. He was a resident of Greenwich, CT, where he also maintained his corporate headquarters. Rick is survived by Connie, his wife of thirty-seven years; their daughter Jennifer Buckley Fox, Vice President and Director of Sales at WOR; son-in-law Chris Fox, who serves as a neurosurgeon and Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy; his sisters Martha Buckley Fahnoe and Dana Buckley Tomkins; brother Brad Buckley; and two loyal dogs, Sam and Sydney. The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Broadcasters' Foundation of America (broadcastersfoundation.org); or to the Richard D. Buckley Memorial Fund to support broadcasting at the University of Miami. Please send donations to: Richard D. Buckley Memorial Fund, University of Miami, P.O. Box 248053, Coral Gables, FL 33124 or give online to the fund at www.miami.edu/rbuckley. Funeral arrangements will be private. A memorial service in celebration of Rick's life will be held on Thursday, September 8 at 11am at Christ Church, 254 East Putnam Avenue, Greenwich, CT.