Frederick "Fred" Buckley, III

Fred Buckley

Of Boise, Idaho, slipped away peacefully at home in the mountains, surrounded by his family, on June 9, 2025. He was 83 years old.

On September 7, 1968, Fred married Effie Mae Buckley, with whom he shared more than five decades of love, partnership, and devotion. Together they raised three children: Charles Colin, Tara Lynn, and Keith Frederick. 

Born on March 26, 1942, in Dansville, New York, Fred was the son of the late Fred Buckley II and Gisela Buckley. He spent his early years with his siblings Shawn, Edward, Jerome, and Sharon in western New York and Pennsylvania, attending St. Joseph’s School in Fredonia and graduating from North Allegheny High School in Pittsburgh. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh in 1963, and later a Master’s Degree from Syracuse University in 1969.

Fred began his professional journey at IBM’s Glendale, New York lab, where he rose to the position of Senior Engineer and was honored with the prestigious IBM Pathfinder Award for innovation and leadership. In 1976, he moved with his family from Vestal, New York to San Jose, California, where he joined IBM’s Los Gatos lab and continued his work as a Senior Engineer. After a distinguished 30-year career with IBM and numerous awards and patents, Fred brought his talents to several startup companies in Silicon Valley. He ultimately retired from Intel, concluding a remarkable career at the forefront of technological innovation.

In 2010, Fred and Effie moved to Boise, Idaho, settling into a home in the mountains where they embraced a quieter life surrounded by nature—exactly the kind of setting that reflected Fred’s deep appreciation for beauty, simplicity and happy hour with family and friends.Fred was a man of many passions. He was an avid photographer, motorcycle enthusiast, sailor, backpacker and a fan of hot air ballooning. He had a deep appreciation for fine German engineering—especially Porsche automobiles—and a love of travel that often took him across the country by car, from Idaho to the Adirondacks, to spend time at the family camp on the lake. He also delighted in live shows of all kinds, finding joy in music, theater, and performance. He found his solo hot air balloon flight exhilarating!

Those who knew Fred describe him as “one of the most intelligent people I’ve known”—a bit of a nerd at times, but always loyal, trustworthy, thoughtful, kind, and loving. Above all, Fred exemplified the essence of humanity.

Fred was a devoted member of Saint Mark’s Parish in Boise, where he found spiritual grounding and community.

He is survived by his wife, Effie Mae Buckley; his children Charles Colin, Tara Lynn, and Keith Frederick; his grandchildren Aryana, Ashten, Victoria, Nick, and Grace; his great-granddaughter Mable; and his siblings Shawn Buckley, Edward Buckley, Jerome Buckley, Sharon Reynolds and cousins, nieces and nephews.

Fred will be remembered for his quiet strength, profound intellect, and deep devotion to the people and values he held dear. He lived with humility and grace, and leaves behind a legacy of love, brilliance, and joy for life.

He will be deeply missed and forever loved.