MP Notable–David Michael Buckley (1930 – 2024)
Dedicated to family and true to himself, Michael found joy in life’s little moments.
The great grandson of Sir John Abbott, Canada’s third prime minister, David Michael Buckley, better known as Mike, was born in Montreal and raised in Hudson, QC. Sir John’s picture hung in the Buckley dining room for years—a part of family history that made Mike immensely proud.
Mike’s world changed at 12, when his older brother, a WWII airman, died in combat. Facing their grief together, Mike and his father spent hundreds of hours building a boat–Mike’s first ‘Y-Flyer’.
Seven years after losing his brother, his mother died. Supported by his Catholic faith and extended family, Mike learned a valuable lesson from his father during those times: “always look forward, never backwards”.
Mechanical engineer
Graduating from MacDonald High School in 1949, Mike settled in Ottawa, where he worked briefly before going back to school to become a mechanical technician. Hired by the National Research Council, Mike worked in the wind tunnel at Ottawa’s airport for 31 years, retiring in 1990.
Mike enjoyed his career and friends made there, but it was his many hobbies and sporting activities that brought true joy: sailing, cross-country skiing, volleyball, canoeing, home-brewing beer, making jam, cottaging and agility dog training with the family border collies.
His passion for sailing led to meeting the love of his life, his “Janey”, at an Ottawa sailing event in 1964. Before they married (in 1966), Mike, a novice skier, joined Jane and her parents on a back-country, telemarking ski trek in the Swiss Alps—much to the acclaim of his ‘new’ British family who admired his character, sweet nature and spirit.
Sailing and sports
Mike and Jane bought a house on Farnham Cres. in 1967, which would become the family’s forever Manor Park home. They had two daughters, Gillian and Penny.
They sailed competitively at the Britannia Yacht Club, ultimately winning the Canadian National Y-Flyer Championship in 1975. At the 1976 Olympics, they were honoured to be rescue boat volunteers for sailing events.
Mike loved his sports teams! He was especially faithful to the Montreal Canadiens, treasuring memories of standing in the cheap seats to watch the ‘big guns’ in their heyday. Later in life, he became a superfan of the Ottawa 67’s. Armed with season tickets, he’d take the bus, arriving an hour before game time to catch the warmup and set up his score sheet to track goals, assists and penalties —a routine he followed until age 89.
Sugaring off in Princeton, Ont. was a springtime ritual, heralding Mike’s distribution of dozens of bottles of pure maple syrup to neighbours in Manor Park.
‘Unwaveringly encouraging’
Dear to his heart, Mike loved nothing more than spending time at their Lac McFee cottage, near Val des Monts, Que. There, he was able to relax, beginning his days early and puttering around. Well into his 80s, he was still felling trees with his chainsaw and cleaning eavestroughs.
His daughter, Penny gave him an iPad when he was 90. For a man who never had a computer, cell phone or even a typewriter, Mike embraced the new technology and all it opened up for him. He re-ignited friendships from England to California on FaceTime. He enjoyed meals with family, borrowed library books, checked sports scores and watched old Victor Borga videos on YouTube.
U.S. President Harry S. Truman’s quote captured Mike’s essence for his children: “The best way for a father to give advice to his children, is to find out what they want to do, and then advise them to do it.” Mike was unwaveringly encouraging to family and friends.
While able to spend his last few years in the family home (as was Mike’s wish), the loss of independence was challenging. Gillian’s husband Don helped with jobs around the house, getting him to appointments and was always up for a beer or two over a hockey game.
A people person
Mike had ‘his Team’ (as he called his caregivers): Juliette, his personal trainer and friend who had kept him fit and mobile since he was 82 with weekly exercise plans that he followed to the letter, and Lorraine, his in-home caregiver who called him ‘dad’, was an especially supportive companion.
Mike was a people person and family man, always putting others’ needs before his own, and seeing the best in people. He found joy in the little things.
His ability to love, laugh, trust and forgive were a testament to who he was at his core.
Looking back, one can honestly say that Mike had 94 great years and one bad week.
With kind appreciation to daughters, Gillian and Penny.
A Manor Park Notable is a snapshot of an individual (now deceased) who lived in the Manor Park area, and who made a difference either through career or community involvement. Please send your suggestions for candidates or submissions to manorparknotables@gmail.com
