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‘He was Hortonville'

Lifelong fireman Bill Buckmaster Jr. passes away

Democrat Staff
Posted 12/12/19

HORTONVILLE — As members of the Hortonville Volunteer Fire Company gathered for their monthly meeting last night, there was a notable absence.

William (Bill) Buckmaster Jr., the fire company's …

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‘He was Hortonville'

Lifelong fireman Bill Buckmaster Jr. passes away

Posted

HORTONVILLE — As members of the Hortonville Volunteer Fire Company gathered for their monthly meeting last night, there was a notable absence.

William (Bill) Buckmaster Jr., the fire company's active treasurer, past president and a Callicoon resident, passed away on December 5 at the age of 76.

He will be remembered for a career in fire service for most of his life.

“Bill was extremely dedicated to our fire company and our cause,” Hortonville Fire Company 1st Assistant Chief Dan Spagnoli said. “He was our active treasurer and involved in all our functions. In a way he was Hortonville. He was active in the county, state and region and represented us well. He took pride in our fire company and will be difficult to replace.”

Spagnoli knew Buckmaster for approximately 20 years since he joined the fire company. “He was always extremely kind, professional and courteous,” Spagnoli said. “He was always there if you needed something.”

One such moment for Spagnoli was when he lost his mother to cancer, and the next day Buckmaster was at his front door to offer his condolences to him and his family. He adds that Buckmaster wasn't someone that demanded respect, but someone that was automatically respected because of who he was.

Spagnoli noted that they're still figuring out how to move forward as Buckmaster knew the ins and outs of the fire company. But despite them still being at a loss, Spagnoli vowed that they will move forward.

“We'll continue to do our work and improve because that's the way Bill would have wanted it,” Spagnoli said.

Funeral services for Buckmaster were held Wednesday at the Hortonville Firehouse and visitation was held Tuesday at the Stewart-Murphy Funeral Home in Callicoon with firematic services.

Buckmaster was extremely active in the fire service. He was a life member of the Howells Fire Department, past President, Secretary and present Treasurer of the Hortonville Fire Department and past President of the Hudson Valley Firemen's Association.

He served on the membership committee of Firemen's Association of the State of New York, current president of the Blue Vests, member and past President of Sullivan County Firefighters Association, life member of Veteran Firemen's Association of Middletown, NY, Sullivan County Fire Police, honorary member of Rockland County Firemen's Association, member of the Orange County Firemen's Association, honorary member of the Saugerties Fire Company and a member of the National Rifle Association.

Former Sullivan County Public Safety Commissioner and Fire Coordinator Dick Martinkovic, who worked with Buckmaster for 30 years, remembered him as a man who was always willing to help in any way he could.

He was detail-oriented, Martinkovic remembered. “He always took care of all the changes to the bylaws because he had an eye for it like no one else … As a past president [of the Sullivan County Firefighters Association] and as county coordinator I worked with him very often. I was never turned down for any assistance when I asked for help from Bill. The county lost a great worker and a great leader.”

Current Fire Coordinator John Hauschild said Buckmaster was an inspiration.

“Bill was a great asset to the fire service. He was well respected and is truly going to be missed,” Hauschild remarked.

The funeral was attended by members of the Hortonville Fire Company, the Sullivan County Sheriff's Office and many other local and regional fire departments. He was honored at the place where he spent so many years dedicated to public service.

Community members and the Sullivan County Firefighters Association paid their respects as the fire siren was heard throughout Callicoon in his memory.

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