June C. Buckman died on December 5th, 2007, at the age of 88. Born in West Hempstead, NY, on August 9,1919, she was the only child of Jennie Renelt and Arthur Ely Clayton. In 1979, she married Raymond L. Buckman, who died on December 10th, 2001.
Mrs. Buckman leaves two daughters from her first marriage to Dr. William W. Quast – Janet C. MacDonald and Diane Q. Forti – and two grandsons, Jeffrey and Greg Armstrong.
Her daughter, Diane Quast Forti, visited from Massachusetts recently and wrote that "Unfortunately, my last visit was in November, 2007, and the new library was closed for Veteran's Day. From what I could see, the building looks wonderful, and my only regret is that my mother never got to see the fruits of her early labors."
Diane grew up in West Hempstead and attended Chestnut Street School and WHHS. Her father, William Quast, had a dental practice on Hempstead Avenue for many years. Her mother was dedicated to education and serving her community and was instrumental in establishing the West Hempstead Public Library.
Diane sent us newspaper clippings from 1956 documenting the efforts of her mother, Mrs. William Quast, as the library's book committee chairman, and her youthful volunteers, eight-year-old Diane and sister Janet, 10.
At Mrs. Buckman’s request, Memorial Donations may be sent to the “West Hempstead Public Library” at 500 Hempstead Ave., West Hempstead, NY 11552 (516-481-6591), Attention: Regina Mascia, Director, for the purchase of new books.
We are grateful to Diane for sharing her memories of her mother. Thanks to June Buckman and her daughters and other volunteers, the West Hempstead Public Library was established and has continued to develop and thrive. We are indebted to the many people who contributed their dreams and their labors to making our library what it is today.