Joseph “Buck” Delehant
Passed June 8, 2022.
He leaves his beloved wife, Karen, daughters Aimee (Matt) Whalen, Julie (Ed) Stoll, sister, Ann Delehant, and mother-in-law, Ruth Lucy. Buck was adored by his grandchildren, Olivia, Matthew, Madeline, Charlie, and Daniel, and loved by his nieces and nephews, dear cousins, and so many treasured friends.
Pre-deceased by his father, Joe Delehant, mother, Mary Delehant, best friend and brother, Tom “Boney” Delehant, and father-in-law, Jim Lucy.
Buck graduated from SUNY Maritime College at Ft. Schuyler and upon graduation began a career on various commercial ships. In 1975 he served as an officer on a ship commissioned to rescue 17,000 Vietnamese refugees on the day Saigon fell. He spoke of this experience as the time when he became a man, filled with empathy and strength. He was proud to have contributed to the safety and care of so many people torn from their home country. He was ultimately recognized for his heroic, unselfish, humanitarian efforts.
Buck traveled the world before coming home. He was a true family man and called the “best Papa ever” by his kids and grandkids. He took enormous joy at his grandchildren’s and nephews’ school events, recitals, and sporting activities. During this time, he was a substitute teacher and when asked what he taught, he always said “kindness and respect.”
In accordance with his wishes, funeral services will be private. A celebration of his life will be planned at a later time.
Donations may be made to the charity of your choice or share an unexpected kindness in his name.
What a lovely tribute to a great man with a big heart and bigger laugh. Love to Karen and Ann who cared for him with so dearly through a long brave journey. Condolences to his family and friends. He made a huge impact on those who were lucky enough to know him. May his memory be a blessing.
Buck was one of a kind., charming, funny, gregarious, to know him was to love him.
Just being in his company was always delightful.
His heart was as large as his physical presence.
He filled the room with laughter..
Thanks to his wife Karen and sister Ann for the wonderful care he received in the last few weeks of his life.
Buck will be missed by all.
With deep sympathy,
Richard Kieffer
My heart breaks for the family and many friends of this good man. He leaves in the memories of all who knew him, love, kindness and a joy for living that was contagious. It was a gift to have known him. May his spirit live on, with love.
What a touching tribute to a one of a kind MAN….We all are better people for having him in our lives…We will always remember all the great memories at TUTS and in our
Sleep City golf league….His smile and laugh always brightened up the room !! We will surely miss his KISSES !!!! He was a true GENTLEMAN….Our thoughts and prayers go out
to his wife Karen and all his family…His Family is his true Legacy….We miss you !!!!
Gino Marcello and all his Sleep City golf pals
THOUGHTS, PRAYERS and CONDOLENCES TO Ann, Karen, Family & Friends. A star will shine in heaven always. He shall be missed… Kinger
I’ll always will haave fond memories of Buck(and our trips to Las vegas) He was one of a kind. God bless him and his Family.
Dennis Trocano
Ann, Karen & Family So very sorry at the loss of Buck. He was a great man and a good friend. He always lit up a room with his laughter and great wit!! He will be greatly missed by many. Rest in Peace bear friend
John & Rosie Moynihan
My brothers and sister knew the Delehant boys, and as I was older I knew of them. Buck’s Dad was a fireman and the family lived on Chili Terrace, next to the Hilberts, and I was their Times Union paper boy. Buck and his brother would see me coming down the street on my bicycle and get me fired up by calling me JOCKO and running away. I remember chasing those two rascals up and down the neighborhood. Never could catch them. Oone time I ran into Buck, who now was head and shoulders bigger than me, and my defense mechanism for him was “…………you know you’re lucky I never beat you up when you were a kid….”……… Laughs all around……………My sister told me of his passing and I am very sorry to learn of this………….my sincere condolances to his wife and family…….it brings back to me precious memories of growing up and the fun we all had.
Sending my condolences to Bucks Family ..Buck was.a unique person in many ways..Very caring and uplifting person..Buck will be missed and always in our hearts..
Condolences to Buck’s family and friends. Buck was our neighbor and a ray of sunshine on our street. He is truly missed.
I met Buck through his brother Boney, the three of us made the first firefighter trip to Las Vegas. That started a tradition that lasted over 30 years,so many firefighters made those trips that I lost count. Buck always made each and every new Vegas guy comfortable and welcome, and as a group everybody loved him. He will be sorely missed by all but needless to say especially me Buck was a great man and more importantly when you were his friend it was forever. My deepest condolences to Karen , his sister Anne and the entire family, you’ve suffered an enormous loss..
Karen, Ann and family,
What can I say about Buck. He was a true friend to all and a devoted family man. I never saw him where he didn’t share stories of the family and often pulled out his wallet/phone to show me a new picture of Karen or his daughters and grandchildren. You all filled his life with so much love and laughter and he, in turn, shared love and laughter with us. He treasured life and will be missed by many! That’s quite a legacy. I’m sure he’s already been golfing with Boney and Thomas, at the same time watching over you. Hugs and prayers!
Our deepest sympathy to Karen ,Anne and the entire family, you’ve suffered an enormous loss. You are all in our thoughts and prayers. He was a wonderful caring loving friend who will be greatly missed.
A Measure of A Man this was Buck
The measure of a man is not determined
By his show of outward strength
Or the volume of his voice
Or the thunder of his actions
Or of his intellect or academic abilities
It is seen rather in terms of the love that he has
For his family and for everyone
The strength of his commitments
The genuineness of his friendships
The sincerity of his purpose
The quiet courage of his convictions
The fun, laughter, joy and happiness he gives to his
family and to others
His love of life
His patience and his honesty
And his contentment with what he has
– Grady Poulard
I met Buck at the Arnett YMCA in the 1950’s; we also went to the same grammar school, Saint Augustine. At the YMCA we were both on the swim team and members of the Leaders Club. We continued to hang out together through high school and even after college. The last trip we took together was in 1972 for Spring break in Fort Lauderdale. Buck had friends from all over the world. While we were in Fort Lauderdale, Buck ran into a college friend and ended up sailing back to Rochester on a sailboat his friend’s father had just bought. While I was fighting Route 95 traffic, Buck was sailing leisurely up the Intracoastal Waterway. I moved from Rochester and lost contact with Buck until several years ago. While in Rochester, along with our mutual friend Jack Farnan, we stopped and visited Buck. Even after all those years, Buck had not changed a bit. Still a presence that filled the room, funny, down to earth and a pleasure to be around. I will miss Buck, but the memory of our times together will live on.