James Buckley Obituary, Death – James D. Buckley December 24, 1941 – December 31, 2022 James “Jim” Denis Buckley, who was 81 years old and lived in Cameron Park, California, passed away recently. It is with great regret that we must notify you of his passing. Jim was a devoted friend and a beloved uncle to his family. Jim passed away in a quiet and peaceful manner on December 31, 2022, surrounded by his family and friends. He had been ill for some time. On December 24th, 1941, in the city of San Francisco, Jim Buckley’s mother, Margaret Reid, and his father, William Francis Buckley, conceived of him.
Margaret Reid gave birth to Jim Buckley. His brother William J. Buckley had already died away before he did, but he is survived by his loyal nieces Margaret Buckley Brown and Laura Buckley Reutter, in addition to five adoring great-nieces and nephews. His sister-in-law also cares for him deeply. William J. Buckley, his brother, had already gone away before he did. Jim spent his high school years at Abraham Lincoln High School and spent his formative years in the Richmond and Sunset districts of San Francisco. In 1959, he received his diploma from high school. Jim’s professional life began in the 1960s when he was employed as an engineer on the Bay Bridge.
After that, he moved on to Cal State Hayward, where he worked for more than 30 years, eventually retiring in 2001 as the Assistant Vice President of Human Resources at CSU East Bay. He had earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and a Master of Business Administration from the College of Business and Economics during his time there. Jim had a deep interest in traveling the world and learning about people who came from a range of different cultures. He had been to a significant number of nations all over the world, and he delighted in regaling others with stories about his exploits, particularly those in which he investigated the areas of Scotland and Ireland in which his ancestors had resided.
He had been a soldier in the United States Army. His best bit of advice for tourists was that “No matter where in the globe you go, you can always find an Irish pub and a jazz club.” Jim shared his enthusiasm for the wonderful wines produced in the area with his friends and family who were in town visiting. He turned many of them on to the delicious Zinfandels and Barberas of El Dorado County, which are both wines that are produced in that area. Jim’s retirement years were spent as a member of the Rotary Club of Cameron Park, during which time he developed a fervent commitment to the positive work done by the club.
This commitment included significant participation in humanitarian initiatives in Nicaragua and the Philippines. Jim’s years as a member of the Rotary Club of Cameron Park were spent after he retired. Jim was also the driving force behind and a supporter of a variety of community activities, including the “Bicycle Give” program and a scholarship for local high school graduates who were graduating.