Richard M. Buckta

Richard Buckta's Eulogy (Written by David Buckta) by Beverly Burke Buckta on Tuesday, October 12, 2010 at 7:56pm We are here to celebrate the life of Richard Michael Buckta, aka "Bucky". Richard began his life in the small town of Raritan, NJ where he was 3rd of 4 children and also my older brother. Despite our austere home life with strange living arrangements, he somehow managed to be a big brother. He showed me how to throw a football and a few wrestling moves from his gym class. As a little brother, I would watch in awe as he ran high school track or point him out as he walked by to my circle of friends. As the youngest, I had the most attention from my mom and of course would readily tattle on any injustices Richie would take upon me. Anyone who knows Richie and his kind nature knew that he would not get upset with my tattling. However, one time he decided to get even. The next time I went to play with my toy soldiers I was quite upset to find 30 of the little fellas had been decapitated. Richie was the first in our family to earn a college degree. We were all extremely proud and equally proud when he landed a job with IBM that took him to a foreign place called Poughkeepsie. There were other strange names to come such a Wappinger Falls, Rhinekliff, Kingston, and even Lake Katrine. But he seemed to like those places and especially the people who welcomed him there. Rich picked up some new habits that were not familiar to our family but he seemed to enjoy them immensely. Like having pets and taking care of animals. Or deciding to learn how to ride a motorcycle. I am sure that one was a surprise for our mom. I was envious of his new found freedom but also learned that having the wind blow in your face during a road trip was only part of the biker benefit plan. There was a special camaraderie and friendship unlike other pastimes. When he spoke of Don, Jimmy or Bruce, I know they were friends who where there for him and that he could count on for anything. And I know that my brother Richie would be there for them through thick and thin. Thank you for all those who rode with Richie in the past and rode on this very special day today. It means the world to our family. Richard was the original social networker. For those over 30, please ask a young person what a social network is. Growing up he was a critical player in our family events. He wasn't a loud center of attention person but rather a kind of social lubricant for you Biker guys. He would talk to our aunts and uncles and amongst our cousins. He would work on our parents and us siblings too. He would get everyone engaged and talking with his outgoing personality, quick wit, and easy smile. I don't know if he did it intentionally or coincidently. I'm just glad he got things moving and I was always glad he was there. Richard's social networking skills got hi tech with numerous daily emails, YouTube posts (that had to be a family first) and Facebook. I am not a big Facebook guy so the first real look I had was on his "wall" that looks like a computer screen to me. I was utterly amazed when I saw the number of people he had connected with and brought together. The outpouring of love and support from the posts were amazing. The number of lives Richie touched in a positive way made my eyes fill with tears. He received 400 plus emails from around the world when he passed. Wow. You better believe I am proud to say that guy is my brother. When Richie came here to New York he was on his own. He met a lot of nice people but did not really seem to fulfill his destiny until he met his beloved wife Anna. To borrow a clich, she completed him. I know Anna was there for Richie during these most troubling of times. I know that no one else would have taken such good care of him. But even more important, Anna was there to share life before the cancer came. I know they did so much together visiting family, going on trips, sitting on their deck and enjoying a cup of coffee with that wonderful view of the water. It was easy to see they were true soul mates and that she and my brother were happy together. Along with Anna came her large and loving family. You readily welcomed Richie with open arms and made him feel like one of your own. You included Richie in your family events and activities and he always spoke fondly of them. He had really found a home in Lake Katrine. You were also there for Richie this past year to help take care of him and to provide comfort. My brother, sister and I are most appreciative of your efforts. Anna, Nathan and Clay, I know of no words to consol you at this time of great loss and sorrow. Perhaps we will have to wait until we see God Almighty to ask him why our Richard was taken so soon. Perhaps we should to try and remember that the first social networker would want us to carry on and live life to the fullest however difficult that may be. I just know that the world is a lesser place without my brother Richie in it. ------------------------------------------------------ Richard M. "Rick - Bucky" Buckta of Sawmill Rd., Lake Katrine died Wednesday, October 6, 2010 at Benedictine Hospital. He was 54. He was born in Sommerville, NJ, a son of the late John and Irene Hrabovecky Buckta. He was a graduate of the New Jersey Institue of Technology with a degree in Industrial Engineering. He retired from IBM as a Briefing Manager in Marketing. He continued with IBM as an independent consultant for SDI. As a boy, he was an altar server. He was an avid Harley-Davidson motorcycle enthusiast and enjoyed riding. He was a friend of Bill W. Surviving is his wife, Anna Walter-Buckta; two sons, Clayton Walter of Lake Katrine and Nathan Jordan of Florida; a sister, Barbara "Cookie" Ziarnowski of Middlesex, NJ and two brothers, John Buckta of Gainesville, FL and David Buckta of Chester Springs, PA. Many nieces and nephews also survive. Reposing at the Simpson-Gaus Funeral Home, 411 Albany Ave., on Sunday from 2 - 4 & 7 - 9 PM. The funeral procession will form on Monday at 10:45 AM at the funeral home. A funeral Mass will be celebrated in St. Colman's Church, East Kingston at 11:30 AM. Interment will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery. Eulogy written by Jeff Weikel My lifelong friendship with Richie compelled me to write an unconventional eulogy... and that's because we weren't conventional....I don't believe there's anyone here that hasn't had many laughs and sincere moments with Richie... Ive had many...that's the kinda guy he was...I'd like to reminisce a few with my bro... Yo Richie...when we met at age 5 I thought you were older cause you were much taller than me...or was it that I was much smaller than you..either way it didn't stop us from being hangin buddies after school, on weekends and all of our childhood summers. All of my childhood through out high school memories include you. I remember our height difference being an advantage in the winters with our snowball fight throwing strategy... you'd hit em in the face and I'd hit em in the balls...what a team. I can't count the number of rides you gave me on the handlebars of your ten speed to the field to play little league baseball, pop warner football, just to hang out or to throw rocks at the trains goin by... Pretending our bikes were Harleys knowing someday we would ride. I will carry those memories and many more til we reconnect again. You my friend....had one great sense of humor that I really admired and became an accomplice of. I can't recall a time that we weren't laughing. Remember as kids your Mom would say "Richie why can't you be more like Jeff" and my Mom would say "Jeff why can't you be more like Richie". So one day you went home to my house and I went to yours...kinda swithced kids...our Mom's got a kick outta that...I think. Then of course our first band at 12 yrs. old...me on drums and you were the singer and tambourine player. Imagine..my big Harley ridin bro playin the tambourine. I'll cherish the recent picture you sent me wearin a cool rock star T-shiret...asking if you could join my current band as tambourine player. Funny shit. I am so grateful that we reconnected last year. It really gave me more meaning as to what a true friend is. There was a gap of about 30 yrs. that we may have spoken 2 or 3 times and the miles between us proved to not have affected our friendship at all. Our first telephone conversation a year ago I asked ya if I could still get a ride on your handlebars...you replied.."Nah..I promoted you to the bitch seat"....Dude...I just about wet my pants. I'm so glad that sense of humor we had throughout our childhood continued in our lives...it has definitely made my life much richer. Reconnecting last year was so cool I don't have words to describe it. Along with our reconnection, you gave me two great friends and Busta, da man that I wouldn't have had the pleasure of if not for you... The first is your wonderful and beautiful wife, Anna. You..like myself...absolutely married up...let me tell ya bro... for a couple of schlubs from Raritan...we did really good. She is a terrific woman. I admire the love you had for each other which was evident when we met in July...that Richie sense of humor is in her..we've had many laughs on line and it was so wonderful to finally meet her in July..and as per your request...we will remain friends for a very long time. I gained another brother from you...the guy who's reading this to ya...Dooner. Sumbitch if he doesn't fit right in with us...knee slappin ballbuster..and...the old bastad plays drums to boot. Even as grown men in our 50's we had to form a cyber biker gang. And of course..ya gotta have cool names to go with a biker gang...another almost wet myself moment... The Ball Brothers...'Cue' ball...'8 ball' and 'hair' ball......we are now a ball short but I am a million balls richer to have had you be a big part of my life. Not to worry bro...Dooner and I will keep up the buffoonery for a long time. Busta da man.. what can one say...My big Harley ridin bro with a Busta da man dog...nuff said. So I say goodbye, my good friend..until we reconnect. I'll end with what we used to say as kids....See ya in da funny papers...... I remain... Tink (Jeff Weikel)