Albert Paten Buckley, Sr.

Albert Paten Buckley Sr, always known as “Al”, passed away peacefully with his family by his side on August 22, 2026, at his home in Cohasset, Massachusetts. Al was a cherished husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, and friend and his presence is dearly missed.

With Al, it was about his kindness. You always knew when you spoke with him, he was listening. You always knew you were heard, whether it was met with a quick retort or his genuine, sometimes mischievous, smile.

Al was the beloved husband of over 70 years to Joan (Mulrooney) Buckley. Together, they built a life rooted in family, faith, and friendship. Through more than seven decades of marriage, Joan was not only his wife, but his constant companion and partner through every season of his life: from raising their five children to welcoming generations of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He was the loving father of Albert, Jr. and his wife Laura Giuliano; Mark Buckley and his wife Nancy; Susan Mavilia and her husband Ron; Cathleen Haggerty and her husband Fran; and Matthew Buckley and his wife Karen. He is also survived by his brother Paul and wife Patricia of Cohasset.

Al was one of seven children born to Daniel Joseph (D.J.) and Florence (Paten) Buckley of Canton and Cohasset. He was predeceased by his brothers, Joseph, Raymond, George, Jack and sister Marie Lucas.

He leaves behind 13 grandchildren: Emma, Ben, Victoria and Olivia; Sam, Jake and Elianna; Sarah, Caitlin and Sean; Bridget and Paul; Nora; as well as 8 great-grandchildren: Amabel, Tallulah, Lola, Brandon, Ava, Asher, Jackson, and Keelson.

Born in Milton, Al graduated from Canton High School in 1947 and spent his adult life in Cohasset. He built numerous custom residential homes in North Cohasset alongside his brother Paul through the D.J. Buckley Company.

Al met Joan through mutual friends, beginning a partnership that would span more than 70 years. They were married at Sacred Heart Church in Roslindale, Massachusetts, before settling in Cohasset to begin their family. Over the years, they created a home that was always open to family and friends and became a gathering place for generations to come.

He later worked alongside his brothers at Buckley Iron Works, also known as Buckley Corporation. A self-taught engineer, Al designed structural platforms and custom steel fabrication fixtures, several of which received patents.

While Joan and Al were raising their family you could often find him supporting community organizations such as the Cohasset Swim Center and Cohasset Sailing Club, usually stepping in behind the scenes with his hands-on approach and quiet willingness to help.

The water was always a part of Al’s life. From swimming laps at Rocky and Sandy Beach or navigating his Day Sailer out by Bassings Beach, he always found his way back to the water. Even well into his 90s, Al could still be found swimming his laps, including winter mornings at the Racquet Club. It was simply part of who he was, a quiet routine he carried with him through nearly every stage of his life.

Joan and Al also embraced the Glastonbury Abbey community, which became a second family to them. For decades, Al shared his time and talents in support of the Abbey’s work with Father Bill’s Place.

Beyond family and faith, Al’s passion was the arts. He brought his natural talent for painting and craftsmanship to many creative pursuits and eventually tried his hand at sign carving. It didn’t take long before he found his way into carving wildfowl. He worked at a remarkable level, producing carvings that often had to be touched before one could believe they were made of wood.

His work was featured in many carving shows and is displayed in the homes of major collectors on the South Shore and Cape Cod. He was a frequent ribbon winner at the Ward World Championship Wildfowl Carving Competition in Ocean City, Maryland. Yet for Al, his art was never only about awards or recognition. Generous with his knowledge and talents, he was quick to help fellow carvers and often donated his work for charity auctions.

Perhaps his greatest artistic legacy is the creativity he passed along to his family. His children and grandchildren grew up watching him paint, carve, design, and create with his hands. He encouraged curiosity, craftsmanship, and the simple joy of making something.

Al will be remembered not only for the things he made, but for the life he built alongside Joan and the family and community he loved. He was a man who showed his love in quiet ways, by listening, by helping, by making, and by showing up. And for those of us lucky enough to know him, there was comfort in knowing that Al was always there: ready with advice. a quick remark, that mischievous smile, or a helping hand. His absence will be deeply felt, but his presence remains with the family he loved, the town he called home, the water he visited, and the many things he made with his hands and passed on to those who came after him.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, September 2, 2026 from 4-7pm at the McNamara-Sparrell Funeral Home- 1 Summer Street, Cohasset, MA 02025. Relatives and friends invited to attend.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, September 3, 2026 at 10am at St. Anthony of Padua Church- 2 Summer Street, Cohasset, MA. Interment to follow at Woodside Cemetery, Cohasset.

In Lieu of flowers remembrances in Al's name be made to the Glastonbury Abbey at  www.glastonburyabbey.org

Visit www.mcnamara-sparrell.com for guestbook.