Sr. Antoninus Buckley
Sister Antoninus Buckley, CCVI, 注册商, Board Member and Professor Emerita of Education
Mary Buckley came to San Antonio as a teenager to become an Incarnate Word Sister and until her death in 1996 she served UIW, mostly as 注册商. But her role went beyond that. For many of her years she served as assistant to president Sister Columkille Colbert, helped with the recruitment of students and lived with the students in the residence halls. On many an early morning during exam week she would watch the door as resident students dashed to Earl Abel’s for a fried chicken break. She was a big sister, mother, grandmother, advisor and best friend to generations she never forgot.
妹妹托尼, as many called her, was also a friend of faculty, 校友, parents and benefactors over the years. But to 孩子们 of all she was called Sister Candy; the minute they hit the Administration Building they would bolt for her office and the candy treats she always kept in her desk drawer. That ready smile and twinkling eyes announced to one and all she had an ever young spirit.
She did take time to earn her bachelor’s degree from IWC and the MA from the Peabody Institute. 在那之后, 从1944年开始, she and her limited staff kept excellent student records and registrations by hand. Sr. Toni had a sixth sense for a student in need, and how to meet it. After 1985 she and Sister Ann Finn became surrogate guardians for Louis and Nancy Agnese, 孩子们 of the then young President, 踢足球, and made many a PB&J sandwich for school lunches.
As a volunteer for the annual 校友 Phonathon she was an inspiration, and a challenge to other volunteers. She not only remembered the student, married name and spouse, 孩子们, 其他亲戚, but also could recall major events in their lives. She frequently made second calls to gather additional data for her incredible memories that she treasured.
A people friendly courtyard behind the Administration Building, The Buckley-Mitchell Building , and an endowed memorial scholarship commemorate her and her favorite motto: “The more you give, the more you receive.”
This is part of our heritage. Making a difference.