Daniel L. Buckey

Daniel L. Buckey, age 83, of Wayne, passed away peacefully, after a very brief illness, on Thursday, May 2, 2019. He passed while receiving the care of his loving family.

Dan was born in Ava, Ohio and raised in Canton Ohio where he graduated from McKinley High School with the Class of 1954. While at McKinley, Dan was a star running back on the school’s football team, the McKinley Bulldogs.

Daniel met Mariann Benedetto, a young lady gifted with a beautiful appearance and countenance from Alliance Ohio. There life-paths crossed in June, 1955 at the Clearwater Park, a recreation water park in Uniontown, Ohio. They soon fell in love and married the following January, 1956 in Mariann’s hometown of Alliance. They thoroughly enjoyed almost 53 years of unconditional and devoted love together until Mariann’s passing from this life in 2008.

After high school, Dan initially worked as a mechanic at a local gas station in Canton. His love of the American automobile eventually lead him to employment as a car salesman. Dan’s magnetic personality and hard work ensured success and, after a few years, his best friend and mentor Gene Dengg convinced him and Mariann to move to New Jersey. Once in New Jersey, Dan got a sales position with Elmwood Ford. Eventually, his good friend Gene invited him to come work for him at his auto dealership - Gene Dengg Ford. Dan’s continued sales success ultimately resulted in the ownership of his own auto dealership – Dan Buckey Ford in Chestnut Ridge, NY.

Upon moving to New Jersey in 1968, Dan and Mariann settled in Wayne where they put down roots, made many good friends and raised their beautiful family. In every facet of his illustrious life, Dan was beautifully meticulous. No one in all of Wayne had greener grass or more perfectly manicured bushes. He would actually go through his lawn and hand-pick any weeds that dared pop up. He was equally fanatical about his own appearance. Oh no! Never touch Dan Buckey’s perfect hairstyle. Even the wind dared not blow a hair out of place. Of course, the numerous applications of hair spray had a little to do with that. One could imagine that hair care companies were glad to have Dan as a customer.

One of Dan’s favorite post-retirement activities was playing golf. In fact, Dan ate, drank and slept golf! If he wasn’t playing 18 holes with some friends at the Apple Ridge Country Club where he was a longtime member, he was either watching golf or working a part-time golf course job that he took just to be around the game of golf.

Everything Dan did, he did 110%. Up until just three weeks ago, he was working out every day at the gym. He spent a lot of time on the treadmill and an equal amount of time just taking walks around town for exercise and fresh air. Many of his family members were often told by those they’d run into, “Hey! I saw your dad walking around town today!” Devout in his faith, one thing Dan was serious about was the season of lent when he always gave up sweets. This was especially impressive since his birthday fell during lent. In many respects, it was his faith in God that informed Dan and motivated him to be so helpful and generous to others. He was everyone’s friend and he truly reflected the love of Christ. If anyone needed help with anything, Dan never said no. A giving man, he gladly donated towards the lights that lit the football field at Wayne Valley High School, regularly donated cars from his dealership to Our Lady of the Valley Church for various fundraising raffles, and even silently helped put students through college by paying towards their tuition.

Above all, Dan’s greatest love and devotion was for his family. They meant the world to him and nothing made him happier than having them all gathered together. Consequently, he loved hosting birthday and holiday gatherings and he never missed even one.  

Dan leaves his family and countless good friends with cherished memories of a very loving, warm, gregarious and giving father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, and wonderful friend.  

Daniel was the beloved husband of Mariann (nee Benedetto) – blessed in marriage for fifty-two and a half years until Mariann’s passing in 2008. He was the loving father of Denise Lynn Gaeta and former husband Ron of Arizona, Dana Lynn Kelly and husband Frank of Wayne, Daniel J. Buckey of Pompton Lakes, and the late Jeffrey Allan Buckey who passed at the age of two days, breaking his heart; cherished grandfather of: Jeffrey Gaeta, Alex Gaeta, Brooke Hanenberg and husband Kevin, Megan Mariani, Morgan Mariani, Julian Buckey, and Daniel J. Buckey; adored great-grandfather of: Kevin, Journey, Zaidin, Christian, and Joelle; and dear brother of Connie, Roberta, Brenda, and Cheryl. He was predeceased also by his four dear brothers: Robert, Jack, Bill, and Duane.