Carol Buckley, 1965 - 2005

From the Ithaca Journal.

ITHACA - Carol Jean Buckley, 40, of Ithaca, NY, died at her home on June 24, 2005 following a courageous battle with Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS). Carol was born in Boston, MA, on March 1, 1965, and spent her early childhood years in Pleasantville, NY. In 1978, she moved with her family to Ithaca, graduating from Ithaca High School in 1983. She went on to earn an associate's degree in math and science from Tompkins Cortland Community College. For the past fifteen years Carol has worked for the Cornell University Library System, most recently as Access Services student supervisor, responsible for hiring, training, and supervising student employees at Olin Library. Her involvement with the Library System, which included work with the Special Events Committee, brought her great personal satisfaction. Carol was honored for her many contributions to the Cornell Library System when she received its 2005 Outstanding Performance Award.

At the age of sixteen Carol made her debut with the Cornell Savoyards, performing in the chorus of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Gondoliers. Carol's rich and expressive singing voice and skilled comic timing soon made her a favorite Ithaca performer. She moved on to featured roles in the Savoyards' productions of The Mikado, The Grand Duke, and Princess Ida at Cornell, a film adaptation of the operetta. She performed leading roles in Ruddigore (Rose Maybud), Iolanthe (Phyllis), Trial by Jury (the Plaintiff), The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Rosa Budd), Pirates of Penzance (Mabel) and Patience (in the title role). In addition to several musical revues, Carol was featured at the Kitchen Theatre in Falsettos, John and Jen, and Master Class; at the Hangar Theatre in Camelot and Sweeney Todd; in the Troika Association's productions of Lady in the Dark and House of Butterflies; and in the Ithaca Opera Association's A Cole Porter Cabaret and The Melody Lingers On. Carol performed in two works composed by Mark Simon: Mr. Natural and the title character in Jennie's Will, a work commissioned for the Dryden Bicentennial and co-written by Pamela Monk.

Carol was a founding member of Women's Works, a circle of musicians whose mission is to promote an awareness of women composers past and present by performing their music and putting it into an historical context. Carol's comedic flair was featured prominently in performances for special events sponsored by the Office of Alumni Affairs and Development at Cornell University. And for six years, beginning in 1998, Carol sang alongside her friends in the annual and whimsical Brooktondale Barn Show.

Carol was a member of the First Congregational Church, where she was a choir member and soloist. She is survived by her loving husband, Paul Heckathorn; her parents, Edward and Janet Buckley of Ithaca; her sister, Anne Buckley Becker (Allen) of West Danby; her brother, Eric Buckley (Kate) and a niece, Olivia, of St. Louis, MO; and her lifelong friend, Katey Strollo of Endicott, NY. Carol and Paul were supported during the last several months by a Share-the-Care network of more than 100 friends from Carol's childhood, Cornell, the First Congregational Church, and her many collaborations in music and theatre. Dubbed "The Carolers," this group of friends provided help and care, and, with her family and the extraordinary caregivers from Hospicare, enabled Carol to remain at home during the course of her illness.