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His Life

Robert Buckman - Professional Obituary

April 8, 2016

Dr. Buckman held degrees in forestry from the University of Minnesota, a PhD from the University of Michigan, and a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University – all interspersed with two stints in the U.S. Army.  His lifelong career in forestry research began in 1955 as a Forest Service scientist in Grand Rapids, MN.  In that role, he studied the use of prescribed fire as a management tool for northern forests and was the lead author in a technical report titled “Growth and Yield of Red Pine in the Lake States”.  But in his ten years of research, he believed that his major contribution was in the use of statistical design for rational analysis of forestry experiments.  He had a penchant for improving research quality and methods that was visible throughout the remainder of his career.

Buckman’s talent for administration and leadership ultimately propelled him into a career track that included two separate assignments in the Washington D.C. offices of the Forest Service.  In 1971, he was reassigned as Director of the Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station.  As Director he emphasized research quality, for both basic and applied research, along with collaboration with user groups and with other research organizations.

In 1976, Buckman was appointed Forest Service Deputy Chief for Research, responsible for all Forest Service Research, for the remaining decade of his Forest Service career.  He was a major contributor to the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Research Act of 1978.  The Forest History Society notes that he “. . . inspired a pro-active stance among coalitions that led to increased cooperation among the 60 forestry schools and colleges, federal and state research programs, international forest science groups, and pubic and private land management organizations.”

After his Forest Service retirement, Buckman moved to Corvallis where he had a part-time faculty appointment at Oregon State University.  There he taught international forestry and forest policy.   He was also elected President of the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO).   Headquartered in Vienna, Austria, IUFRO consists of 15,000 forest scientists in 110 countries that is dedicated to focus and coordination of forestry research world-wide.

Dr. Buckman’s remaining family consists of four children, six grandchildren and a younger brother.

Robert Erwin Buckman - Family Obituary

April 7, 2016

Robert (Bob) was born in 1927 in Superior, Wisconsin and grew up in Spooner, Wisconsin as the first child of Leola and Herman Buckman. A brother, Donald, arrived two years later.

At age 17 Bob enlisted in the US Army and as a Lieutenant served with the Army of Occupation in Germany during 1946-47. He was recalled during the Korean War.

Bob studied Forestry at the University of Minnesota and University of Michigan, where he earned a PhD in Forestry in 1959.  In 1968-69 Bob spent a year at Harvard earning a Masters Degree in Public Administration.

In 1950 Bob married Marie L. Eidenschink, a marriage that lasted over 60 years until her death in 2011. They had two daughters, two sons and six wonderful grandchildren.

Bob’s forestry career began in Grand Rapids, Minnesota in 1955 as a Research Forester with the Lake States Forest Experiment Station of the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). Bob moved to Washington DC in 1965 where he served in a variety of staff positions in forest research. In 1971 he transferred to Portland, Oregon as Director of the Pacific Northwest Forest Experiment Station.  Five years later he returned to Washington DC as a Deputy Chief of the USFS where he directed the forest research and international programs; work that he lead until his retirement in 1986.  Bob was passionate about his career in forest research and the USFS until his last days. 

Bob joined the College of Forestry at Oregon State University in Corvallis shortly after his retirement. He taught forest policy and international forestry and guided several graduate students until he retired again in 1995. During this time he served as Vice-president then President of the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (1986-1990) representing 15,000 forest scientists in 110 countries. In this capacity, he and Marie enjoyed travel to many parts of the world.

Bob and Marie built their retirement dream home in Corvallis, a home that was open to relatives and friends from the world over as well as the center for many family gatherings for the last 30 years. He was proud of the wide variety of rhododendrons he carefully nurtured in the yard. Bob also became an avid researcher of family genealogy, resulting in a family document as well as numerous trips to visit newly discovered relatives in the US and northern Europe. His stays in DC cultivated a lifelong interest in the Civil War and American history. Bob was an avid hunter and fisher wherever he called home.  He looked forward to fall elk camp with family and friends. His family shared the appreciation for the outdoors that he instilled through annual camping, fishing and hunting trips.

Bob was recipient of a number of awards in recognition of his contributions to forestry, including election as Fellow in the Society of American Foresters, Fellow in the American Association for the Advancement of Science and Honorary Member of the International Union of Forest Research Organizations.

Bob is survived by his children, Mary Buckman and Patricia Cirello, both of Corvallis, Robert Buckman of Newport, John Buckman (Pam) of Pendleton; 6 grandchildren, Sally Feiner, Brenda Grill, Alyssa Salstrom, Angie Cirello, Robert Buckman, Joe Cirello; and his brother Don Buckman (Carol) from Shell Lake, Wisconsin.

At Bob’s request, there will be no service. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Oregon Public Broadcasting (7140 SW Macadam Ave, Portland OR 97219) or the Society of American Foresters  (5400 Grosvenor Lane, Bethesda MD 20814).