1923
Frederick
2012
Frederick Buckley
November 5, 1923 — April 2, 2012
Frederick J. Buckley
Miami, FL
His great laugh filled a room. No one forgot the stories he told with natural skill and humor. A tough and smart lawyer, Frederick J. Buckley was known for his integrity, civility and ability to distill clarity from complexity. A lifelong naturalist, he identified trees, wildflowers, butterflies and birds in any woods. Latin names of wildflowers came easily to him. The Morgan horses he loved and raised responded to his resonant voice and firm touch. For all of this, however, the passion of his life was Josephine Kinzer, to whom he wrote notes in the third grade and was married for 62 years.
Mr. Buckley died in Miami, Florida on Monday, April 2, 2012 at the age of 88. He was born November 5, 1923 in Wilmington, Ohio, the only child of Millard Buckley and Martha Bright Buckley. He grew up in Wilmington during the Depression and was graduated from Wilmington High School in 1941, where he played football. He was an Eagle Scout and a lifeguard. After graduation he attended Wilmington College for a year, where he was president of the freshman class, a sports reporter and member of Gamma Phi Gamma. Thereafter he attended The Ohio State University before entering the United States Army in 1943. He served in England and France until November 1945. Within a month of returning home, he married his childhood sweetheart, “Jo.”
The two of them soon left for Ann Arbor, Michigan, where Mr. Buckley attended the University of Michigan on the GI Bill and earned his undergraduate degree in 1948 and law degree in 1949. He began the practice of law in Wilmington, Ohio in 1950. He founded the firm now known as Buckley, Miller & Wright in 1962 and pioneered its growth into a highly regarded litigation, business and probate practice. In his mid- fifties, he studied for and passed the Florida Bar, and was admitted to practice in 1982. At the forefront of the alternative dispute resolution movement, he led efforts to establish mediation in Clinton County, Ohio and mediated or arbitrated a number of cases in Florida. Over the years, he achieved a number of professional honors and awards. He most valued his selection by peers for fellowship in The American College of Trial Lawyers and the honorary doctor of laws from Wilmington College, where he served as counsel and trustee.
But his professional accomplishments communicate only a portion of his rich life. He was the first scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 154 in Wilmington. He was a member of Methodist churches in Wilmington, Naples and Miami. For over twenty years, Mr. Buckley enjoyed Fairchild Botanical Gardens in Miami, Florida and served as a volunteer until July, 2011. The Director of Volunteer Services thanked him for being a “friendly and welcoming presence out in the garden.” He led his children on backpack trips on the Appalachian Trail and canoe trips on the Little Miami River before there were any liveries. He read extensively, played guitar in a jazz band, and in his later years, thoroughly enjoyed spring training games.
His wife saved the notes he wrote her in the third grade. They were engaged before he left for World War II and married on December 4, 1945, he in uniform. Together, Fred and Jo restored the 1840’s house and property at 841 W. Truesdell and named it Oak Run. They travelled in Europe and loved their years in Florida.
He is survived by three children, all of whom are lawyers, Daniel (Ann Marie Tracey) of Cincinnati, Ohio, Fredrica (David Elder) of Miami, Florida and Matthew (Carolyn King) of Richmond, Vermont; his granddaughters Katherine Harrington, Ellen Shipley and Margaret Savane; also Ryan Mooney Bullock and Maureen Tracey Mooney; and five great grandchildren.
The family will honor his request for no funeral or memorial service. There will be an open graveside service at Sugar Grove Cemetery in Wilmington Ohio on Saturday, April 28 at 10:30 a.m. Donations may be made to Wilmington College, 1870 Quaker Way, 1307 Pyle Box, Wilmington, Ohio 45177 or The Fairchild Tropical Botanical Gardens, Attn: Donor Services, 10901 Old Cutler Road, Coral Gables, FL 33156. www.edgingtonfuneralhomes.com
Miami, FL
His great laugh filled a room. No one forgot the stories he told with natural skill and humor. A tough and smart lawyer, Frederick J. Buckley was known for his integrity, civility and ability to distill clarity from complexity. A lifelong naturalist, he identified trees, wildflowers, butterflies and birds in any woods. Latin names of wildflowers came easily to him. The Morgan horses he loved and raised responded to his resonant voice and firm touch. For all of this, however, the passion of his life was Josephine Kinzer, to whom he wrote notes in the third grade and was married for 62 years.
Mr. Buckley died in Miami, Florida on Monday, April 2, 2012 at the age of 88. He was born November 5, 1923 in Wilmington, Ohio, the only child of Millard Buckley and Martha Bright Buckley. He grew up in Wilmington during the Depression and was graduated from Wilmington High School in 1941, where he played football. He was an Eagle Scout and a lifeguard. After graduation he attended Wilmington College for a year, where he was president of the freshman class, a sports reporter and member of Gamma Phi Gamma. Thereafter he attended The Ohio State University before entering the United States Army in 1943. He served in England and France until November 1945. Within a month of returning home, he married his childhood sweetheart, “Jo.”
The two of them soon left for Ann Arbor, Michigan, where Mr. Buckley attended the University of Michigan on the GI Bill and earned his undergraduate degree in 1948 and law degree in 1949. He began the practice of law in Wilmington, Ohio in 1950. He founded the firm now known as Buckley, Miller & Wright in 1962 and pioneered its growth into a highly regarded litigation, business and probate practice. In his mid- fifties, he studied for and passed the Florida Bar, and was admitted to practice in 1982. At the forefront of the alternative dispute resolution movement, he led efforts to establish mediation in Clinton County, Ohio and mediated or arbitrated a number of cases in Florida. Over the years, he achieved a number of professional honors and awards. He most valued his selection by peers for fellowship in The American College of Trial Lawyers and the honorary doctor of laws from Wilmington College, where he served as counsel and trustee.
But his professional accomplishments communicate only a portion of his rich life. He was the first scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 154 in Wilmington. He was a member of Methodist churches in Wilmington, Naples and Miami. For over twenty years, Mr. Buckley enjoyed Fairchild Botanical Gardens in Miami, Florida and served as a volunteer until July, 2011. The Director of Volunteer Services thanked him for being a “friendly and welcoming presence out in the garden.” He led his children on backpack trips on the Appalachian Trail and canoe trips on the Little Miami River before there were any liveries. He read extensively, played guitar in a jazz band, and in his later years, thoroughly enjoyed spring training games.
His wife saved the notes he wrote her in the third grade. They were engaged before he left for World War II and married on December 4, 1945, he in uniform. Together, Fred and Jo restored the 1840’s house and property at 841 W. Truesdell and named it Oak Run. They travelled in Europe and loved their years in Florida.
He is survived by three children, all of whom are lawyers, Daniel (Ann Marie Tracey) of Cincinnati, Ohio, Fredrica (David Elder) of Miami, Florida and Matthew (Carolyn King) of Richmond, Vermont; his granddaughters Katherine Harrington, Ellen Shipley and Margaret Savane; also Ryan Mooney Bullock and Maureen Tracey Mooney; and five great grandchildren.
The family will honor his request for no funeral or memorial service. There will be an open graveside service at Sugar Grove Cemetery in Wilmington Ohio on Saturday, April 28 at 10:30 a.m. Donations may be made to Wilmington College, 1870 Quaker Way, 1307 Pyle Box, Wilmington, Ohio 45177 or The Fairchild Tropical Botanical Gardens, Attn: Donor Services, 10901 Old Cutler Road, Coral Gables, FL 33156. www.edgingtonfuneralhomes.com
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