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Boston Latin School Bowdoin College Northeastern University

FUNERAL HOME

Robert J. Lawler & Crosby Funeral Home

1803 Centre Street

West Roxbury, Massachusetts

STEPHEN BUCKLEY Obituary

Name: Visitation for STEPHEN BUCKLEY
Start: 2019-05-13T20:00:00.000Z
End: 2019-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
Location: Robert J. Lawler & Crosby Funeral Home

BUCKLEY, Stephen Of Medfield, MA, passed away in his sleep on May 9th after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

Steve is survived by Susan (Bliss) Buckley, his loving wife and partner of 47 years, his three children and four grandchildren: daughter, Sarah Rodenhi of Medfield, her husband Kyle and their children Catherine and Owen; son, Daniel Buckley, his wife Laura Luo and their daughter Saya; son, Timothy Buckley of South Boston, his wife Kelsey (Ill) Buckley and their daughter Joanna. He is the brother of John S. Buckley, formerly of Westwood and Gerald Buckley of Duxbury; he was predeceased by his brother, Kevin Buckley of West Roxbury. He is also the beloved uncle of many nieces and nephews.

Steve was born in Jamaica Plain, the third of four boys born to the late Stephen and Catherine (Long) Buckley of Millstreet, County Cork, Ireland. Steve graduated from Boston Latin School before receiving degrees from Bowdoin College and Northeastern University. He spent his professional career as a partner at Ernst & Young for over 35 years, eventually leading the life science industry practice.

Steve's lifelong passion could be found on the golf course. Many knew Steve as an active member and past President at Charles River Country Club. He grew up caddying with his brothers at The Country Club in Brookline and attended college thanks in part to the Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund. Steve would go on to serve as a Treasurer, President and longtime Trustee of the Fund, endowing a scholarship with his brothers John and Gerry in memory of Kevin.

Steve gave his time and support to many causes and organizations, including the Boston Latin School Association and the Northwood School (Lake Placid, NY) as a Trustee; the town of Medfield as a member of the Warrant Committee; and to many aspiring athletes as a patient coach of youth basketball, baseball, and softball.

Visitation Hours are Monday, May 13, from 4:00-8:00 PM at the Robert J. Lawler and Crosby Funeral Home, 1803 Centre Street, WEST ROXBURY, and the Funeral Mass will be at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, May 14, at St. Theresa of Avila Church, 2078 Centre Street, West Roxbury. In lieu of flowers, donations in Steve's memory may be made to the Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund, 300 Arnold Palmer Blvd., Norton, MA 02766. Lawler and Crosby Funeral Home

617-323-5600

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Boston Globe from May 10 to May 12, 2019.

Memories and Condolences
for STEPHEN BUCKLEY

23 Entries

Vincent Lee

June 11, 2025

Rest in peace, Steve. All your BLS classmates miss you.

Vincent Lee

May 4, 2024

I was just thinking about Steve the other day. His memory prompted me to be more thankful for all the good friends and people with whom I have shared this journey and whose thoughtfulness and kindness have made the path easier and more meaningful. Thanks, Buck.

Vincent Lee, BLS '67

May 4, 2023

Miss you, Buck, as do all your BLS classmates. Rest in peace, my friend.

Vincent Lee

May 4, 2020

This is a time for reflection. Steve came to mind on a beautiful May day as I was mourning the loss of yet another member of our BLS Class of '67. Yes, we're senior citizens now, but it hardly seems possible that it was nearly 60 years ago that we embarked together on our six-year journey that would be so important in shaping our lives. Those shared experiences are still very vivid, and Steve was always a positive presence. I know I speak for all of our class by stating the obvious, that the intervening 12 months have not eased the sorrow of losing a cherished friend. Peace to his loving family at this time.

Pat Legere

July 19, 2019

Dear Sue and family,

I was so upset to learn of Steve's illness
and passing. I have known you and Steve from
Medfield, Ma before you even had your beautiful
children. I remember so many fun activities we
had as a group called "The Jaycee Women". From there we became The Medfield Ladies Club which might still be in existence today.

I remember when I was taking courses to become
more employable. I struggled in an accounting class and Steve took time from his busy schedule to work through many problems I was
having. I was so grateful for his time and patience.

My heartfelt sympathy,

Pat Legere

Tom & Cheryl Danielson

May 30, 2019

So sorry to learn of Steve's passing. I had the opportunity to work with Steve as a E& Y Capital Markets Partner in Europe. Susan and family have our sympathy.

Dan Buckley

May 29, 2019

Words of Remembrance as delivered on May 14, 2019

My name is Dan Buckley, and I am proud to be Steve's older son. On behalf of my mom, my sister Sarah, my brother Tim, and our partners, Steve's beloved grandchildren, and his brothers John and Gerry: thank you for joining us to honor Steve's memory and to celebrate his life.

Since my dad passed, there has been a non-stop flood of visitors, emails, and phone calls, relaying not only condolences, but also memories and impressions conveying what my dad means to them. Many of you are here today. You are his family and friends, his classmates, his colleagues, his mentors and his mentees. Each of us carry with us a piece of my dad, and through each of us his generosity, friendship, good humor, and sense of community are carried forth.

My dad's story played out over 70 years on this Earth. But he nearly failed to live past the age of five when an accident in the kitchen sent him to the hospital with life-threatening burns. He survived and amongst the four Buckley brothers was the consensus pick for mother's favorite. Gerry attributes this to the accident dad suffered but I think Gerry simply objected to being compared academically to my dad during their school years; it was a very high standard. John on the other hand, being the oldest, had to tolerate Stevie accompanying him at my grandmother's command everywhere he went, even though John was five years older and he complained that Stevie was too young. Everywhere except, John noticed, when he and Kevin had to run errands for my grandmother. He's too young she would claim, despite their protests. Mom's favorite, indeed.

From Latin School and Bowdoin, friends and classmates talk about my dad's quiet leadership and his galvanizing personality. It will likely surprise no one that he was the fraternity Treasurer during this time at Bowdoin. This was a crucial role, since his report on the house finances would help them decide whether they would eat or whether they would drink that week. For the benefit of his less-financially literate brothers dad gave his budget reports in beer keg-based units rather than in dollars. So you can probably guess how the fraternity typically decided to expend its funds. In later years, his friends would remark that he was the glue who bound his friends together. Dad was the catalyst for his fellow Bowdoin and Latin school alumni to gather together on the Cape, in Bermuda, at Fenway, or at school reunions.

Still others know him from his four-plus decades at Ernst & Young. But even then, his colleagues have as many personal memories to share as professional ones. My dad was a mentor who encouraged hard work and expected a lot but was never demanding. He was generous with his time, supported his colleagues and advised them never to overlook the life part of work-life balance. He led by example and he showed that to be a good Partner you had to be complete person: a good husband, a good father, a good citizen.

My dad lived that example in a number of ways. There are those of you here today who came to know my father through his work with non-profit, academic and charitable organizations. He lent his time and his effort to organizations that helped others; even after his diagnosis, dad volunteered to advise those who struggled financially to help them plan their daily finances, unwind credit card debt, or ensure they could stay in their homes.

While we have different memories and relationships with my dad, I expect that we all share one common understanding: the man loved to give advice. Solicited, unsolicited, personal, professional, financial you name it, he gave it. And while he was a very good golfer, I am convinced he loved golf as much as he did because it allowed him the perfect opportunity to dispense his hard-earned wisdom. And if you ever spent time with him on the golf course, you've probably heard this pearl: Keep your head down, we'll watch it.

The more I think of it, it's really the essence of the guy. Keep your head down pay attention to the task at hand; care about the process as much as the results; follow-through on what you're meant to do; be right but be humble. We'll watch it friends, family, colleagues have your back, I have your back; together we make sure your hard work pays off.

Sarah, Tim and I were on the receiving end of that bit of advice I'd say about ten thousand times each. We heard variations of it depending on the sport, the class in school, or whatever challenge we faced. And he and mom were proud to support whatever we wanted to do provided we committed to our choice and shaped it with our own hard work. As my brother came to find out, even something as simple as sweeping the floors should be done right (that is, the way HE did it) because later sweeping the floors could be paying the bills. We never wanted for a thing, never wondered if we were loved, and were always gently guided to do what we thought was right and what ought to be done.

But all Steve's sage advice went out the window when it came to his grandkids. Doting grandfather doesn't even do it justice. He got no greater pleasure than escorting Cate and Owen up to the bakery in Harwich and letting them gorge on melt-aways as long as they didn't tell their mom (spoiler alert: Cate often did; but Owen can keep a secret). As Tim and I welcomed daughters recently, we saw him to our shock and amazement actually change diapers and feed them bottles! Even though you can count his career total diapers changed on one hand, it was still a lovely testament to how much he adored them.

As dad faced his diagnosis with astounding yet characteristic calm, he told my mom his love, his partner, his devoted caregiver that he had no regrets. Mom, you are the reason that his 70 years was lived without regret. Your memories are the most precious and unique of them all. I know they will give you strength in the weeks ahead. Your children and grandchildren take comfort knowing that he lived his life as he wished, and his ultimate wish was fulfilled when he got to spend 47 of his 70 years married to you.

Now 70 years may seem like long time, but when it comes to my dad it feels unbearably short. I know that I'd give anything for one more turn onto the back nine, one more trip to Fenway, one more afternoon on the beach in Harwichport with my dad. But in talking to my uncles and family, dad's friends and others he touched, I do know those 70 years were more than enough for him to pay back what he had been given in his own lifetime. And that tells me he is at peace.

So, until we meet again: keep your head down dad, we'll watch it. We love you.

Gerry Anderson

May 14, 2019

My sincere condolences to Steve's family. I hope that you can take some comfort in knowing that so many others share in your sorrow. He was really a great guy.

George Field

May 13, 2019

56 years ago, when we met at Boston Latin School, and every time I was fortunate to see or talk with him since, Buck was the man you hope your sons will be: solid, courteous, funny, honest, empathetic, reliable, talented but self-effacing, generous and moral.
He will be missed by so many, but never forgotten.
Condolences to his fine loving family.

Gerald Whelan

May 13, 2019

As one lucky enough to have been a classmate of Buck's, I have no doubt that every member of the BLS Class of 1967 who's received this message, is now mourning, each in his way, the passing of this generous, gentle, great-hearted man, because it was impossible not to love Steve Buckley. He was, and remains, our brother--dare I say, even sometimes our older, more mature brother, smiling, with the same good-humored smile captured in the photo on this page, on the often puerile shenanigans playing out around him. He was a born leader-- loyal, gracious, delighting in serving others--and I will always think of him with affection and gratitude. To borrow from the poet Auden to honor Buck:

"Earth, receive an honored guest:
Stephen Buckley is laid to rest."

Requiescat in pace.

Susan McIntosh

May 13, 2019

Dear Sue and family,
I am so sorry to learn about the death of Buck.
My thoughts and prayers are you with as you grieve his loss. I will attend Mass today in Carmel, IN praying for all of you at this difficult time. May you be blessed with peace, comfort and strength. I remember
"Bliss" coming back to the dorm at Westbrook (MacDougall) from Bowdoin/Beta telling us about this great guy she met "Buck" with a big smile on her face. May the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace. Love and hugs to my roommate :) Smac

May 13, 2019

Irene Houde

May 13, 2019

Steve was one of my very favorite people at EY and the first partner to really mentor me and advocate for my success. I respected him greatly and am so thankful for the time I got to spend under his tutelage. I'm deeply saddened by his passing and my sincerest sympathies go out to his family.

Patty Smith

May 13, 2019

Steve Buckley is one of the finest gentlemen I have ever known, one of the most outstanding professionals I have ever worked with, and I extend my deepest sympathies to Susan and the entire Buckley family on the loss of your wonderful husband, father, and grandfather. Steve was the first person I met at Arthur Young & Co when he interviewed me as a new BC graduate and budding CPA candidate. He was a wonderful mentor to me throughout my career there, as he was to so many. Steve was a leader in the high tech/bio tech industry, and was very much respected by fellow CPA's, clients, and other colleagues throughout our industry. When I left Ernst & Young and eventually started my own business in the Bio Tech area, Steve was very supportive and never too busy to answer a younger colleague's question or refer a piece of business when a firm like ours was required. The last time I talked to Steve, he was very excited about the birth of his grandchild and the time he was now going to have to be with them after he retired. We ended that conversation with a friendly goodbye and I recall thinking then about what a loss Steve's retirement would be for all of us who knew him and respected him so much...a great guy, a devoted family man...a fine gentleman...an outstanding CPA and executive...gone from our sight but not our hearts..rest in peace dear Steve.

Cheryl Stover

May 12, 2019

Sue, Sarah, Tim and Dan. My sincere condolences to you and all the Buckley/Bliss family. Steve (Buck) will always be remembered as a loving part of our graffiti years at Bowdoin and Westbrook. Hold the memories close to your heart as a loving husband, father and grandfather. He is at Peace now. With much love to you all. Stovie.

Kim Reinert

May 12, 2019

Steve was one of the first partners I worked with at EY and someone who spent the time to take an interest in my career. He was an advocate and ally for diversity and a mentor of mine. He will be truly missed. With fond memories and deepest sympathies.

Michael Markos

May 11, 2019

My deepest sympathies to Steve's family. He was a leader and friend to so many at Latin School. He was a driver of the camaraderie in the BLS Class of 67 and brought so many of us back together at our 50th reunion. May you Rest In Peace, Steve.

Paul Bezreh

May 11, 2019

Bucko , my best friend at BLS. I am very grateful that we were able to stay in touch over the years and was so happy to share some wonderful moments with you at our 50th. May God Bless your family, my prayers are with them. I will miss you my friend, goodbye for now.

james Rose

May 11, 2019

To a great classmate rest in peace

Vincent Lee

May 10, 2019

My deepest sympathies to Steve's extensive family and many friends. News of his death comes as a real shock, given that he was the picture of health at the BLS Class of '67's 50th reunion just two years ago. He and I were classmates for many of our six years at Latin School, and looking back I cannot recall even once that Steve was not positive and upbeat. He was a leader in a quiet, understated way, a quality that he put on display leading the underappreciated effort to pull all the necessary pieces together for our 50th. I cannot imagine a more decent human being, and I will miss him terribly.

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