Donald Charles Buckley

Donald Charles Buckley

March 22, 1924 - January 12, 2019
Irvine CA

Donald Charles Buckley

March 22, 1924 - January 12, 2019
Irvine CA

Obituary

Donald Charles Buckley was born in Chicago in 1924, one of two brothers, to James and Claire Buckley. His father was a U.S. Congressman and his mother had French-Canadian roots, so he spent many of his childhood summers with his relatives in Berchier sur Mer (Quebec). While attending Loyola University in Chicago he met Regina Bukowiecki. They both graduated in 1946 with B.S. degrees in Biological Sciences and married that September. After graduating from Dental School in 1955, he served 2 years in the Air Force at Griffis Air Force Base in Rome, NY, where he developed innovative dental procedures, such as creating a device that allowed a cleft palate newborn to suck milk and thrive until undergoing surgery. After leaving the Air Force, he was one of three students admitted to the highly competitive graduate program in the newly emerging field of orthodontics at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, where he received an Ms.D. degree in 1959. He was offered a faculty position at the University based on his cleft palate research and publications (which garnered several government grants) but decided to return with his wife and young children to the South Suburbs of Chicago, where he established a private orthodontic practice in Evergreen Park. In the 1980s he began accepting “public aid” patients, believing that they deserved the same quality care as private patients. It was not unusual for him to have 3 generations of the same family receive treatment. He reluctantly left his beloved home in Flossmoor (Il.), which he designed and installed many of its custom features, and moved to Irvine in November 2010, hoping that his ailing wife would thrive there. Sadly, he lost her to heart disease and his son (Don) to cancer in the winter of 2010/2011. It took a few years to adjust, but he came to love his life in Irvine, taking advantage of his many and varied cultural interests: classical music, theatre, cinema, art, and science lectures. He leaves behind his children: Denise, Elise, and Michael; and grandchildren, Andrew, Ian and Emmi. He was loved and he will be missed by friends and family.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in his name to KUSC Classical Radio” his constant home companion. https://www.kusc.org/

 

Graveside Service

  • Date & Time: January 19, 2019 (12:00 PM)
  • Venue: Ascension Cemetery
  • Location: 24754 Trabuco Road Lake Forest, CA 92630 - (Get Directions)
  • Phone Number: (949) 837-1331

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7 responses to Donald Charles Buckley

  1. Nancy Bertrand – I couldn’t sleep tonight; thinking about my dental appt next Friday. Thinking back to my childhood dentist and him sending me to Dr. Buckley for my braces. I went to his Evergreen office for my impressions in the 70’s and did all the other visits at his South Holland office. I remember Carl being there too. I am now 59 and that all seemed like another lifetime ago. I cannot believe he lived such a long life of 95 yrs. He did a good job on my teeth and I still get compliments til this day. I remember my parents taking me to 3 different Orthos for quotes and to see what their detailed plan would be for braces. Back then, there was no insurance, so they paid cash. I do remember that Dr. Buckley was the highest of them all, but he was the only one that said he wasn’t going to pull any of my teeth except that I had to have my 4 wisdoms removed. My parents picked him. I remember the pain after the adjustments. Those old wire braces were awful. lol I’ll always remember him fondly and I wish his family the very best. He was a good man and Orthodontist. RIP Dr. Buckley.

  2. Nancy Bertrand

    Nancy Bertrand – I couldn’t sleep tonight; thinking about my dental appt next Friday. Thinking back to my childhood dentist and him sending me to Dr. Buckley for my braces. I went to his Evergreen office for my impressions in the 70’s and did all the other visits at his South Holland office. I remember Carl being there too. I am now 59 and that all seemed like another lifetime ago. I cannot believe he lived such a long life of 95 yrs. He did a good job on my teeth and I still get compliments til this day. I remember my parents taking me to 3 different Orthos for quotes and to see what their detailed plan would be for braces. Back then, there was no insurance, so they paid cash. I do remember that Dr. Buckley was the highest of them all, but he was the only one that said he wasn’t going to pull any of my teeth except that I had to have my 4 wisdoms removed. My parents picked him. I remember the pain after the adjustments. Those old wire braces were awful. lol I’ll always remember him fondly and I wish his family the very best. He was a good man and Orthodontist. RIP Dr. Buckley.

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