1935 – 2015

CUMBERLAND FORESIDE — Paul Richard Buckley Sr., 80, of Cumberland Foreside passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, on Sunday, Oct. 4.

Paul is survived by his wife and best friend of 56 years, Anita Buckley. Paul is also survived by his four children, Lisa Carew and her husband, Steve, of Falmouth, Paul Buckley Jr. and his wife, Katherine, of Falmouth, Scott Buckley and his wife, Regina, of New York City, and Julie Buckley of Cumberland Foreside; Paul’s beloved grandchildren, Elizabeth, Katie, Madison, Nicholas, Ryan, Oliver, Elliott, Hayden, Logan and Colin, range in age from 10 to 22. Paul’s sister, Ann Golder, lives in Collinsville, Conn.

Paul graduated from Lewiston High School in 1953, where he was both a basketball and football star. He completed his undergraduate degree at University of Maine in Orono in 1957. Paul also received his law degree from University of Maine in 1961.

Paul had a fortuitous 50-year career as an estate planner and life insurance broker. He began his early career at Longley Associates, where he partnered with the late Gov. James B. Longley in Lewiston. He was a top producer at New England Life, where he won their Flagship Award for leading the nation in insurance sales production. Paul was also a top leader at the Million Dollar Round Table, an international association of over 20,000 financial professionals, rising to the office of president in 1984. Paul subsequently won the J. Putnam Stevens Award from the Maine Association of Life Underwriters. At the end of his career, Paul worked with his son, Paul Jr., daughter, Lisa, and son-in-law, Steve, at The Buckley Group of Portland and BGA Financial.

In addition to his accomplished career, Paul was a community benefactor. He was a past president and governing board member of St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center in Lewiston and a past member of the advisory board at Fleet Bank.

Paul was an avid fly fisherman. He adored spending his time outdoors in nature and surrounded by animals. Paul spent his winters at his home of 25 years in Treasure Cay, Abaco, with his wife, children and grandchildren, where he would bone fish, island hop and captain golf carts for pirate treasure hunts.

Paul taught all of his children to ski despite his hatred of the sport. He took his family on a caravan every February vacation to ski at Mont-Sainte-Anne in Quebec during their school years. Paul also took his family to Goose Rocks Beach every summer and, when the kids got older, the grandkids would come as well — all 20 family members staying under one roof.

Paul was an avid sports enthusiast, attending many of his children’s and grandchildren’s games. His expansive network of family, friends, colleagues and associates refer to Paul as one of the most generous men they have met.

The family would like to extend a special and heartfelt thank-you to all of those at Maine Medical Center Special Care Units for their wonderful and committed care and continued support.