George Joseph Buckman

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of George Joseph Buckman, age 85, of Pompton Lakes, NJ.  George passed away peacefully on Sunday January 29, 2023 while receiving the loving care of his family.

George was born in Jersey City, NJ and raised in West New York, NJ.  He was one of four children to John and Mary Buckman.  After graduating from high school in 1955, he attended college for a few years.  In 1959, George felt in his heart to serve his country and enlisted in the United States Army.  George served proudly and honorably in the US Army from 1959 until 1961.  Following his honorable discharge from the US Army, George went to work for Harper & Row Publishing Company in New York City.  Harper & Row were eventually acquired by HarperCollins, however, George continued to work there for nearly thirty years.  He then accepted a position at Simon & Schuster publishing where he worked for the next ten years until his retirement in 2000.  In his retirement, George became a crossing guard for Pompton Lakes Police Department for the next eighteen years.  This was work that George truly enjoyed.

George was out one night at a bowling alley. A young attractive lady by the name of Barbara was bowling in a league with her friends a few lanes over.  George couldn’t help but notice Barbara in her ice blue blouse, black skirt, and pendant necklace. George mustered up the courage to ask Barbara out for a date when he met her again the following week on league night. They went out to the movies on a date and hit if off wonderfully. As fate would have it, they fell in love and on April 18, 1964 at the Bethany Lutheran Church in North Bergen they became husband and wife.

The newlyweds settled in North Bergen then in 1968 moved to Lincoln Park.  While residing in Lincoln Park, they welcomed the birth of their first daughter Kim.  In 1972 the family moved to Pompton Lakes where they welcomed their second daughter Michele.  The family remained in Pompton Lakes, raised their children, and called it their home until 2012 when they moved to Riverdale.

George loved to watch and keep up with sports.  His favorite teams included the New York Giants, the New York Yankees, and most of all Rutgers University’s Scarlet Knights.  Travel was something that George treasured experiencing with his wife Barbara.  They cruised all over the Caribbean and Europe, and took a wonderfully memorable trip to Israel and Jerusalem. 

It was clear to everyone that knew George, his greatest passion in life was for his family.  Nothing in the world meant more to George than providing for and spending time with his children and grandchildren.  He treasured his summer family vacations in Lavallette at the Jersey Shore and Washington DC where he would visit with relatives.  George and his wife Barbara cherished fifty-five years of a loving and loyal marriage until Barbara’s passing in 2018. 

George was a fun loving and easygoing person.  He enjoyed using sarcasm in all facets of his communication, especially his humor.  He had an undeniable ability to tell a story and captivate an audience of any age.  He was a kind, generous, and thoughtful man who loved his family deeply. 

George was not only devoted to his family, but he was also devoted to his Christian Faith. He and his family were members of Pompton Reformed Church in Pompton Lakes for many years, where George was also a deacon and served on several church committees.

George was truly a special person who touched the lives of many people and will be sincerely missed by everyone that knew him.  He will be forever remembered as a devoted husband, a loving father, and cherished grandfather. 

George is survived by his two daughters Michele Almeida and her husband Jose of Pompton Lakes, NJ, and Kim Hollar and her husband Harry of Hackettstown, NJ, four grandchildren; Gregory Buckman and his wife Renee of Clifton, NJ, Kaitlyn Hollar of Hackettstown, NJ, Ryan Almeida of Pompton Lakes, NJ, and Jared Hollar of Hackettstown, NJ, he is also survived by one nephew and many nieces. He was predeceased by his wife Barbara Buckman, and by his three brothers: Buddy Buckman, Thomas Buckman, and Joseph Buckman.

Those planning a donation in George’s name are asked to consider Wounded Warrior Project 370 7^th Ave, Suite 1802, New York, NY 10001  www.woundedwarriorproject.org