James Buckley, member of Historical Society, dies at 92

James Buckley, a longtime member of the Valley Stream Historical Society and caretaker of the Pagan-Fletcher Restoration, died on Aug. 29. He was 92.

Buckley was born on June 28, 1923, in his mother’s bedroom on Fifth Street in Valley Stream. He was the son of Raymond J. and Anastasia Curran Buckley, and was one of four children. Buckley’s father was the former postmaster of Valley Stream.

He graduated from Valley Stream Central High School in 1941. Buckley served for three years in the U.S. Army during World War II, and was stationed in Paris. Upon returning to Valley Stream, he went to work as a purchasing agent for Hendrickson Brothers, a company that built many roads in the area.

Buckley was actively involved with the historical society, and served as chairman of the board of directors until 2008. He was recently named chairman emeritus by Mayor Ed Fare, the current board chairman.

Fare said Buckley was a “big pillar of the Valley Stream community. He had Valley Stream in his veins.”

“He could tell you everything and anything about Valley Stream, absolutely loved the place,” added Buckley’s daughter, Maureen. She said the only time he didn’t live in the village was during his three years in the military.

Buckley and his late wife, Anita, raised their six children in Valley Stream.

Fare described Buckley as an integral part of the historical society, which manages the Pagan-Fletcher Restoration on Hendrickson Avenue as a local history museum. Buckley was the last of the trio that also included Ted Libath and Bert Keller who helped get the Restoration operational in the early 1990s.

Just before Libath died, he asked Buckley to look after his wife, Agnes. “And he sure did that,” Agnes said. “He was very good to me.”

Agnes, also a member of the Historical Society, described Buckley as a “very fine man.”

Buckley, Fare said, was one of the few people remaining in Valley Stream who knew what the village was like before it was developed. He cited Buckley’s anecdotal knowledge of the community, and his willingness to share his stories with others. “It’s like a library burning down,” Fare said of Buckley’s death.

Fare said that Buckley cared deeply for the Pagan-Fletcher Restoration. He would be there every day to check up on the place, take out the garbage, answer phone messages and even do some routine maintenance.

In an effort to preserve Valley Stream’s history, he kept meticulous records, Fare said. Buckley was also instrumental in arranging to have Wheeler Avenue School students come and tour the house every year to learn about their community’s roots.

Buckley’s dedication to the Historical Society and to the community earned him the honor as the Herald’s 2008 Person of the Year.

Honesty was one of the Buckley’s greatest qualities, Fare said, in addition to a great moral compass. “He’s someone who had to the chops to give you constructive criticism,” Fare said, adding that the Buckley also had the credentials to stand behind his statements.

In addition to his daughter Maureen, Buckley is survived by sons Richard, William, Thomas and Michael; brother Robert; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife, son James Jr., sister Gladys Mullin, and brother Raymond Jr.

“He was happy until his last day,” Maureen Buckley said.

Funeral services were held on Wednesday at Holy Name of Mary Church in Valley Stream. He was buried later that day at Calverton National Cemetery. Donations in his name can be made to the Valley Stream Historical Society.