LYNN — Longtime Lynn resident and Medford native Raymond “Buck” Buckland, 64, died suddenly last week holding the hands of his beloved wife and son after sustaining an inoperable head injury.
Upon the announcement of his death, friends and family fled to Facebook to remember the “kind heart” and “funny, outgoing” personality he carried with him everywhere.
Growing up in Medford, Buckland played basketball for Medford High School and was inducted into the Mustang Hall of Fame in 1991. He continued his basketball career at Boston State University as the school’s all-time leading scorer, an accomplishment that contributed to his induction into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame.
He then went on to play basketball in Europe, and continued his love for sports as he coached and mentored his son, Sean, and his friends in their athletic endeavors.
Buckland raised his son in Lynn with his wife, Robin, and dedicated much of his time to the city, but coworkers and friends say he never forgot his roots in Medford and would go back there frequently to visit.
Buckland worked as a Department of Housing and Urban Development inspector at the Lynn Housing Authority and Neighborhood Development (LHAND) for 30 years, retiring just last year.
LHAND Executive Director Charles Gaeta said Buckland was a good friend who was loved by everyone.
Gaeta recalled meeting Buckland years ago at the former Office Bar and Grill — which was located where RF O’Sullivan’s currently stands — where all of the city workers would go to hang out.
He said Buckland was the kind of guy who would talk to everyone and make people laugh.
Even after all these years, Gaeta said Buckland was great at keeping in touch with people he used to see at the Office Bar and Grill, as well as people from his hometown.
“Buck was a beloved guy and always left people with a smile,” Gaeta said. “We were all really heartbroken about what happened to him. He was great.”
Buckland was a very popular guy, but Gaeta said the “apple of his eye” was always his son, Sean. Gaeta said Buckland always loved to talk about his son’s athletic accomplishments and, with Sean’s baseball career spanning from St. Mary’s to Salem State, there was much for Buckland to be proud of.
Longtime friend Dave Moore — who worked at LHAND with Buckland for 25 years — said he was more than just a colleague; he was also a dear friend.
“He had an unforgettable personality,” Moore said. “You only had to meet Buck once to remember him.”
Friends on Facebook agreed, remembering Buckland as not only a tremendous basketball and baseball player, but as a “tremendous personality” who made instant friends with everyone he met.
Buckland’s son remembered his father as having the biggest heart, someone who was always willing to do anything for anyone.
“He was the life of the party no matter where he went and left everyone laughing or with an ear-to-ear smile,” his son said on Facebook.
Services for Buckland will be held at Dello Russo Funeral Service — located at 306 Main St., Medford — on Saturday, July 17 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
