Eugene D. Buckley: A Life Filled With Family, Friends, Accomplishment

DOYLESTOWN, PA — Eugene David "Gene" Buckley died suddenly and unexpectedly on June 8, 2023, at the age of 61, but his presence will forever remain in the hearts and memories of everyone he knew.

Born on August 12, 1961, in Teaneck, New Jersey to Eugene William Buckley and to Nora Timlin Buckley, Gene spent his early childhood years in New Jersey and New York before moving in 1973 to Doylestown, a special place he still called home.

Surrounded by three loving sisters, Joan, Betty, and Marian, they created childhood memories that lasted his lifetime: Saturdays at the pool club, weekends at their summer house in Pine Bush, and secret R-rated movie watch parties.

During his years at Central Bucks West High School, Gene excelled in football and served as Captain of the CB West Varsity Football Team. After graduating from high school in 1979, Gene fulfilled his dream of playing college football at Wagner College in Staten Island, N.Y., and graduated in 1983 with a Bachelor of Science degree in economics. He enjoyed the recognition of starting every football game during his four years as a college tight end and serving as team captain.

His success as a football player was the first highlight in a life filled with an abundance of family, friends, and career accomplishments.

As a loving husband to his wife Susan for almost 29 years and a loving and proud father to their two sons, Collin (26) and Evan (22), Gene’s family meant everything to him. His sons fulfilled every hope and dream he ever had for them, and then some.

As a coach in the football and baseball youth sports communities, “Coach Gene” was a title he cherished. He was a devoted father, mentor, coach, and friend to his two sons. As a family, they traveled overseas often, and those experiences were Gene’s most special moments in life.

Gene came from a large family – an extended family that reached into the hundreds. Enjoying every family gathering to its fullest, he was the life of every party. Gene’s humor and zest for life was part of everything he did. Gene always could find a reason to celebrate, enjoy life, love, laugh, eat and drink, sing, dance, talk, and tell stories.

Gene had an abundance of energy for living. He also had family who lived in his beloved Ireland. Having visited there more than 12 times, County Mayo, County Cork, and his “Irish Family” held special places in his heart.

Gene simply had too many friends to count. His friends were an integral part of him. He simply could not and, more importantly, would not enjoy life without them. Beginning with his high school friends and college football teammates, his friendships expanded to include his “Unisys Crew," golf partners, business colleagues, fellow Redskins fans, neighbors, and his newest friends in Florida. Gene was never alone.

Whether it was on top of the mountain at Vail, Colorado, at the Spanish Steps in Rome, or standing in line at a distant airport, it seemed like Gene was always responding to some friend calling out “Hey Buck." Gene loved them all. And, amazingly, his heart was big enough to hold them all.

Gene was an accomplished information technology leader with more than 30+ years in technology sales and management. He started his career at Unisys in 1984 (there wasn’t a computer he could not sell), followed by six years at Computer Sciences Corporation and two years at Harris Corporation.

Gene continued his march to the forefront of technology companies when he joined Cisco Systems in 1999. He considered his fifteen years at Cisco Systems as a senior director to be the pinnacle of his business career. But Gene wasn’t finished sharing his many talents as he went on to work for VMware, and he recently joined Amazon Web Services in 2019. He planned to retire as an “Amazonian,” a title he was most proud of.

Following in the footsteps of his father, Gene relished his successes as a businessman, but he was most proud of the results he saw in those he once had the opportunity to lead. The success of his “Teams” was his driving motivation.

Gene loved spending time with his family, friends, and dogs Tucker and Indie, playing golf, traveling, biking, and spending time at his second home in Naples, Florida. He was an avid photographer collecting more than 18,000 photos of his family and friends. He was a parishioner at Saint Theresa Catholic Church in Ashburn, Virginia, and a former parishioner of Our Lady of Hope, where he served as an usher and helped support the building and establishment of the Church in 2000-03.

Gene is predeceased by his mother, Nora Timlin Buckley, and several aunts, uncles, cousins, and brother-in-law, Dwight Smith.

He is survived by his wife Susan (Klimek) Buckley; their two sons, Collin Buckley (Arlington, Va.) and Evan Buckley (Ashburn, Va.); his father Eugene Buckley (Allentown); his three sisters, Joan Going (Allentown), Betty Trymbiski and her husband Brian (Doylestown), and Marian Pany and her husband Steve (Allentown); as well as six nephews, seven nieces, their spouses, and four great-nephews and two great-nieces.

A viewing will be held on June 15 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Colonial Funeral Home, 201 Edwards Ferry Road, NE, Leesburg, Virginia.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on June 16 at 10 a.m. at Saint Theresa Catholic Church, 21371 St. Theresa Lane, Ashburn, Virginia.

A Celebration of Life reception will immediately follow at Belmont Country Club, 19661 Belmont Manor Lane, Ashburn, Virginia.