John Buckley: Community Minded Family Man

By Holly Fox Vellekoop

If you believe life slows when you retire, John Buckley will change your mind. Hailing from Detroit, Michigan, Buckley moved here in 1961 with wife Helen
and their growing family. Brian, their firstborn, is a Vice President at Interface and Control Systems, Indialantic. Patricia works for State Farm Insurance in
Suntree, Coleen works for Omni Health Care in Melbourne and Denise is employed at an insurance company in Orlando. Diane lives in Melbourne and is District Manager of Cheney Brothers, Inc., Ocala. Patrick is a Brevard County paramedic.

A 1956 University of Detroit graduate who studied journalism and political science,
Buckley used his writing skills for Chrysler Corporation’s Missile Division for
7 years. A Certified Professional Contract Manager, he retired in 1994 from more
than thirty years working as a Contract Technical Manager at NASA where he earned
an Exceptional Service Medal. Since then, he keeps busier than ever.

A loving father and husband to his large family that also includes seven grandchildren
and pet dog, Peanuts, Buckley still manages to become involved in his community.
He served from 1986 to 1996 on the Melbourne City Council and as
Melbourne Mayor from 1996 until 2004.

Buckley served two terms as president of Honor America, Inc., Liberty Bell
Museum of Melbourne, and remains on the Board of Directors there. According to
Virginia W. LeMasters, their Executive Director, “John Buckley is the angel behind
the production. What impresses me most about him is that he gives the gift of himself
without expecting or wanting something in return. We can always depend on
him. He served as an auctioneer for our Channel 15 auction and has been a master
of ceremonies for our organization when needed. His dedication is amazing.”
As past president of the Pinewood Village Homeowners Association, Buckley
helped with the many issues facing their members and he was a one-time chairman
of the Melbourne Airport Authority. The Ancient Order of Hibernians, an Irish-
Catholic organization, also benefits from his time and energy. Buckley once served
as the Leading Knight for the Knights of Columbus and is a Trustee for them at this
time.

It was as a member of Elks Lodge 1744 that Buckley became a performer with the
NU KOPY KATZ, lip-sync performers. Utilizing musical instruments as props, the
group dresses like the singers whose music they are lip-synching. NU KOPY KATZ
performs free of charge and can be contacted by telephoning Buckley at 254-1165.
“We’ve done Roy Orbison, John Fogarty and Buddy Holly performances,” Buckley
says. “It‘s a lot of fun.”

After all that, you would think that Buckley has no time for anything else. He stays
abreast of current news and the presidential race mostly through magazines, yet still
manages to find time to travel. The trips he and Helen have taken to places like
Montreal, Ireland, France and Alaska are documented in “The Journeys of Helen
and John,” the name of the ongoing travel record that Buckley keeps. He has also
written the history of the Buckley family. “I did it for our children,” he says.

What else interests him? “I like to collect stamps and coins,” he says. “Some of my
favorite coins are mint sets and I especially enjoy the coins and stamps commemorating
our space program. I have a cache of stamps honoring the Apollo program
through the shuttle launch.” He also has a display of miniature Zolan plates in his
home.

Buckley speaks proudly of his wife, Helen, with whom he celebrated a 50th wedding
anniversary on May 18, 2007. “She’s been a great wife and mother,” he says.
“And, she’s an accomplished organ player. She can play all kinds of music.”
Helen is a volunteer, too. She was once active with the AARP and is a member of
the Ladies Auxiliary of the Knights of Columbus and the Elks. The couple has
attended Ascension Catholic Church of Melbourne since 1961. When asked about
her husband, Helen says, “He’s an honest man, a man of his word. Always has been.
We’ve been blessed.”

In summing up his life, Buckley says, “At age 74, I feel I’ve had a successful life
and I’ve enjoyed all that I’ve done.”