The Ultimate Girl Dad

Dennis Buckley - Chatham, New Jersey

Photo Credit:  Kathleen Buckley

Dennis Buckley of Chatham, New Jersey and his wife, Kathleen, were the proud parents of three little girls, ranging in age from 22 months to six years old, when he was killed at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.  At age 38, he worked at Cantor Fitzgerald as a Vice-President, Municipal Bonds, and was in his office in the North Tower on that terrible Tuesday morning.   

He and Kathleen met in 1988 at The Big Cahuna, a club in Lower Manhattan, began dating shortly thereafter, and were married in October 1992.   He began working at Cantor Fitzgerald in January 1993.   The couple moved to Chatham, New Jersey in 1994, which is where Mary Kate, Megan, and Michele were born.  Mary Kate, the oldest, turned six less than two weeks after her dad’s death.  

At 6’2” and 210 pounds, he retained the physique that had made him an All-American Lacrosse player at Lynbrook, NY high school and, later, earned him a lacrosse scholarship to the University of Maryland.  

As big as he was and as physically imposing as he was, Kathleen said he was happiest with her and their girls, all of whom loved their Barbie dolls.  He always seemed to have a Barbie doll sticking out of his pocket when he was with them and loved taking them to the swim club where each daughter proudly displayed her pink Barbie towel. 

His Barbie girls are all adults now.  Mary Kate will be twenty-eight this year.  Michele, who had less than two years with her dad, is herself in her early twenties.  

Whenever anyone dares to ask why it is so important that we never forget the lives lost that day, remind them that every soul lost that day was connected to at least one other person to whom they were lost forever.   It is only fair that they are remembered for at least that long.

Chatham, New Jersey September 11 Memorial 

Photo Credit:  TAP Chatham

-AK