Robert "Bob" R. Buckley, 90, of Osprey, Fla., formerly of Rosemont — where he spent many summers in Ocean City, N.J. — died peacefully at home on Feb. 13, 2026.
Born and raised in Overbrook, Pa., Mr. Buckley graduated from Friends' Central School in 1953 and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from Drexel University in 1958. A gifted athlete, he lettered in football, baseball and basketball. Standing 6-ft.-5 in., he notably competed against Wilt Chamberlain in the Inter-Ac League.
Following graduation, Mr. Buckley served as a captain in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from 1958 to 1959. After completing his military service, he joined his father's Philadelphia-based deep foundation and sewer and water company, Buckley & Company Inc. He began as a laborer in the shop — learning the business from the ground up — and assumed leadership from his father in 1974 after which, under his tutelage, the company transitioned to a heavy highway, civil and dredging and dive contractor at that time.
As president, chief executive officer and later chairman of the board, Mr. Buckley expanded the company into a nationally recognized contractor. Over the course of his career, he was involved in 48 joint ventures across the United States.
Under his leadership, the firm completed numerous landmark projects, including the original pond area surrounding the iconic globe work at EPCOT Center in Walt Disney World —— a major joint venture at San Francisco International Airport, significant infrastructure projects in Puerto Rico, the Schuylkill widening and bridge rehabilitation project from City Line Avenue to King of Prussia (east and westbound), and the Newburgh–Beacon Bridge in Newburgh, N.Y., among many others.
Closer to home, Mr. Buckley helped shape Philadelphia's infrastructure. As his daughter Kathryn Buckley, an engineer in the company's estimating department, noted, there is scarcely a bridge in the city that did not bear his touch — whether through original construction or later reconstruction.
"Dad built the ‘bathtub' portion of the I-95 corridor in the 1970s," she said. "Currently, we are improving the same area with the Central Access Philadelphia project, which is building a cap and park over the interstate. In many cases, the firm completed the original construction under his direction only to return years later — sometimes under the next generation's leadership — to modernize and rebuild."
Working for her father meant learning by example.
"He was very disciplined," Kathryn told Construction Equipment (CEG). "He loved what he did. And he pushed you as far as you could go. He expected 120 percent at all times — just as he expected 120 percent of himself."
Even in his later years, Mr. Buckley remained engaged with the company. He stepped back from daily operations during the COVID-19 pandemic, he continued to monitor projects by phone. He called his son, Rob Buckley Jr. — who now leads the company — at least once a day. Everyone got the phone calls, all managers, office personnel and team members, including Kathryn.
"The biggest change this week," she said recently of his passing, "is that we haven't had the phone call from Dad."
True to form, Mr. Buckley worked until the very end. He passed away on a Friday afternoon — after the workday had concluded.
"If you can choose when you die," Kathryn said, "he chose Friday afternoon after work hours.
In the days following his passing, his children did what he would have expected: they went to work.
"Everyone asked why?" Kathryn said. "And I said, ‘Because that's how my dad rolls. What are you going to do — sit at home crying? That doesn't work. Get to work.' That's how he was."
"I pretty much learned everything from him that made us what we are today — hard work, determination, honor, loyalty, dedication to his family, his employees and the construction industry, respect and a never-quit attitude," said Rob Buckley, son and president of Buckley & Company, told CEG. "He also embraced results, not excuses. No matter how tough things are going, you keep moving forward and finish the job."
Rob Buckley said he began working for the company as a teenager in 1974, starting with the lowest job in the shop.
"My first job was greasing the trucks in the grease pit — maintaining the equipment, washing the trucks and doing whatever needed to be done during the summers," he said.
He later worked on the concrete crew on the original Interstate 95 project in Philadelphia's Society Hill neighborhood — the same stretch that was recently demolished as part of the Central Access Philadelphia project.
"We're now building the 11-acre park over the highway — the cap," he said. "So, I helped build the original project and then tore it down decades later. If you're tearing down something you helped build, you've been around a while."
His father had overseen the original construction.
"I was a laborer on that job in the mid-to-late '70s," he said. "I don't remember the exact year. But I remember one thing — we weren't going home unless we placed a thousand yards of concrete in a day."
Rob Buckley became president of the company approximately a decade ago, around 2016, after his father gradually stepped back from day-to-day leadership.
"Even then, he never really gave up the reins," he said. "You don't fully get put in the power until the older generation is gone. I'll miss his presence, his knowledge and him just being the way he was — his mannerisms, everything about him. He would always say, ‘Your word is your bond, and your handshake is the deal.' Nothing else matters. It's just such a huge loss."
Will Buckley, son and vice president of Buckley & Company, described his father as "all business" on the job site or in the office, yet able to completely switch off from work to be a "play dad."
"He was a great family man who enjoyed activities like boating and spending time at their shore house," he said. "This ability to separate his professional and personal life was a defining trait."
Will added that his father taught his children — Rob, John (retired due to injury at work), Kathryn and himself — critical skills by involving them in high-pressure emergency jobs for the company, including how to communicate, coordinate and manage catastrophic events, such as emergency repairs on I-95 in the Port Richmond area in Philadelphia following a tire fire, and emergency repair work on I-95 in Kerlin Street in Chester, Pa., after a tanker fire.
He said his father was always mindful of treating people with respect.
"He would say, ‘Never burn bridges with anybody, you might be working with them on next job.'"
Marlena "Marley" Buckley, granddaughter, fourth generation family business member and project superintendent of the CAP project in Philadelphia, emphasized her grandfather's daily practice of visiting every job site and staying informed about all projects.
"Despite having responsibilities across the entire business, he maintained close contact with field operations," she said. "I admired his commitment to knowing ‘every move' on each job. He commanded attention immediately upon entering a room or job site."
She attributed this authority to the respect he earned over many years and to his personal character. But, she added, that while her grandfather appeared to often place an unrelenting emphasis on work, his efforts were ultimately for the family's and the company's well-being.
"He ensured the family was safe and cared for, building a company designed to endure across generations," she said.
Beyond the family business, Mr. Buckley was known for mentoring other contractors and supporting numerous charitable and community organizations, including churches, Drexel University and the March of Dimes.
His devotion to Drexel University remained steadfast throughout his life. He joined the university's board of trustees in 1991 and later received an honorary Doctor of Engineering degree in recognition of his service and leadership.
He was named a Drexel Legend by the Colonel Athletic Association, received the A.J. Drexel Paul Award and the College of Engineering Alumni Achievement Award, and was inducted into the Drexel Athletic Hall of Fame. He also was recognized as a member of the Drexel 100 (a distinction lauding the top outstanding graduates) and the College of Engineering Alumni Circle of Distinction. Buckley Field, Buckley Green and Buckley Courts at the Armory, Jack Buckley Hoogstraten Sports Medicine Center stand as lasting tributes to his commitment.
In the professional community, Mr. Buckley was a respected industry leader. He served as a member, board member and president of several organizations, including The Moles, which he joined in 1978. He served as its president in 2000, received the Member Award in 2007 and celebrated his 40-year anniversary with the organization in 2018. His son Rob became a Mole in 1994.
He also served as president of the Contractors Association of Eastern Pennsylvania and the Association of Pennsylvania Contractors, just to mention a few.
Mr. Buckley is survived by his wife of 68 years, Marlene (née Miller); his children, Robert (Patricia) Buckley, John Buckley, Marlena Buckley, Kathryn Buckley and William (Sheila) Buckley; his grandchildren, Katlyn (Matt) Walton, Kelly Buckley, Michael (Kathryn) Buckley, Christopher (Marrissa) Buckley, Stephen (Elaina) Hill, Tyler (Brittany) Hill, Marissa Hill, Blake Hoogstraten, James Hoogstraten, Marley Buckley and Travis Buckley; and his great-grandchildren, Brooklyn Walton, Kamryn Walton, Emilia Buckley, Savannah Buckley, Lilyana Buckley and Liam Hill.
Memorial donations may be made to Williamson College of the Trades, 106 S. New Middletown Road, Media, Pa., 19063. Contributions to the college are preferred. CEG
