Richard Ernest Buckley, 92, of Central Avenue in Ludlow, PA passed away Wednesday (March 13, 2024) at the Lutheran Home at Kane.

    Born May 26, 1931, at Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh, he was the son of the late Ernest R. and Mary J. Buckley.  He was married to Ila (Peg) Buckley who passed away in 2008.On October 3, 2014, in Mechanicville, NY, he married Claire Ann Olson Depto who survives.

    Dick was a 1949 graduate of Bradford High School and received his B.S. Degree from Slippery Rock College in 1954. in 1966, he received his Master’s Degree in Guidance and Counseling from IUP. He also had an Administrative Certification and Letter of Eligibility (Superintendent) from St. Bonaventure University which he received in 1971.  From 1954 through 1971, he served in the military.

    He taught Social Studies at Bradford Jr. High School for two years before moving to Williamsburg where he served as a math and social studies teacher for seven years and guidance counselor for three years. While there, he also coached the Blue Pirates High School basketball team for ten years where his team compiled a 207 wins and 44 losses record. The team went to the state finals in 1961, 1966, and 1968, with the 1966 team winning the P.I.A.A. “Class C” State Championship with a 25-0 record.

    In 1969, Dick moved to the Kane Area Jr. High School where he taught math for one year and served as guidance counselor for four years.  In 1975, he was appointed Kane Area Jr. High School principal and remained in that position until his retirement in 1993. Dick was inducted into the Blair County Sports Hall of Fame in 1966.  In 2016, the Blue Pirates Basketball team was also inducted into the Hall of Fame.

    You never heard a former student or player call Mr. Buckley by his first name.  He represented the true meaning of respect and esteem.  He stressed the importance of setting goals and taught his students and ball players how to achieve them. He motivated so many with his energetic approach to life and many of them followed to become teachers and coaches themselves. He inspired everyone to his very last days.  His bark truly was worse than his bite.  His kind soul will be missed.

    Throughout the years, Dick was a member of St. John’s Episcopal Church, the Masonic Lodge, The ZemZem Shrine, the Coudersport Consistory, McKean County Shrine Club, Kane and Ludlow American Legion Posts and the Kane VFW.  He also served on many boards, including the Kane Area School Board, McKean County Care for Children, McKean County Cancer Society and the Lutheran Home at Kane Board.

    Survivors, in addition to his wife Claire Ann, include his daughter Sandra (Les) Amidon of Prattville, Alabama; his stepdaughters, Barbara (Dan) Luciano of Cincinnati, OH,  Martha Zettle of Prattville, Alabama and Jennifer Depto of Lakewood, NY; one stepson, Dan Depto of Kane; granddaughter, Sabra (Michael) Gossett of Alabama; great-granddaughter Charlene (Charlie) of Alabama; half-brother Jack (Dorothy) Gabig of Williamsburg, VA.  Dick is also survived by one nephew; three nieces; two step-grandsons and three step-granddaughters.  Two other very special people in Dick’s life have been Linda Meyers of Wexford and James Meyers of Rockport, TX.

    In addition to his parents and first wife, Dick was preceded in death by his birth mother, Isabel Gabig; a stepbrother James Gabig; and one step-granddaughter.

    Friends are invited to attend a visitation which will take place at the Cummings Funeral Home on Friday (March 15) from 4:00-7:00 p.m.  A memorial service will take place on Saturday (March 16) at 11:00 a.m. at St. John’s Episcopal Church, with the Rev. Rebecca Harris and the Rev. David Pflieger officiating.

    Memorials may be made to St. John’s Episcopal Church in Kane; Shriner’s Hospital in Erie, Friends’ Memorial Library in Kane; Williamsburg Public Library; or donor’s choice.

    Online condolences can be expressed at www.cummingsfh.com.