BY JOYCE BLAY
and DICK METZGAR
Staff Writers
George Buckwald LAKEWOOD — H. George Buckwald, who gained legendary status as mayor of the township and as an Ocean County freeholder, was renowned for his honesty, according to those who knew him best.
Buckwald died Feb. 23 at Kimball Medical Center at the age of 82.
“George took great pride in his town,” state Sen. Robert W. Singer (R-Ocean), a Lakewood committeeman, said in a letter to the Tri-Town News. “He wore it on his sleeve and it manifested itself in everything he did; everything he strived for. He helped shape the Lakewood we know today; yet he never sacrificed his integrity.”
Buckwald, a Republican, wore many different hats from the early 1960s until recent years.
Buckwald served as a township committeeman from 1964-90. During that period he served as the municipality’s mayor in 1966, 1968, 1974, 1977, 1981, 1984 and 1989. He was an Ocean County freeholder from 1980-89 and served as freeholder director in 1983 and 1987.
Buckwald held key state Republican Party positions for almost 30 years, along with membership in key state public service organizations at the same time.
Joseph Buckalew, of Lakewood, recalled running with Buckwald during the early 1960s.
“We were all saddened by the passing of George Buckwald,” Buckalew said. “He and I ran together for the Township Committee in the early 1960s. After I left (Lakewood) office in 1967 to become a freeholder, he stayed on. When I left, he became a freeholder. He spent many years in public office to make the quality of life better for the people he represented. Bringing back passenger rail travel was a major project for George and (the attempt to do so) is still under way today. George brought glory to the profession of being a politician. He was incorruptible. He was a forthright, straightforward guy.”
A lifelong resident of Lakewood, Buckwald attended township public schools. He graduated from Rutgers University with a degree in journalism. He is survived by his wife, the former Judy Kanaya.
Buckwald served with the U.S. Navy in World War II, assigned to the Office of Naval Intelligence in Washington, D.C. He also served with the Seventh Fleet in the South Pacific in the war against Japan. He was awarded a Purple Heart medal, which is presented to soldiers who have been wounded in action.
He won a host of civic awards for his community involvement.
“George was a man of vision,” Singer said. “He was part of the group that envisioned the Lakewood Industrial Park, roads, locally, and on the county level. He was around when there was rail service. He was very involved in the positive aspects of the community and was not afraid to take on a challenge.
“He was very astute and a visionary about the way things should be. He cut through red tape to get the job done for businessmen. He was a big rallying person for Lakewood and was very proud of it,” Singer said.
Education was also very important to Buckwald. He was a past member of the Georgian Court College (now University) Advisory Board and a past member of the Ocean County College Foundation. He was a trustee of Ocean County College from 1994 until his retirement in 2002. He served on the buildings and grounds and finance committees.
Ocean County Freeholder Director Joseph Vicari recalled when he and Buckwald were Ocean County mayors.
“George was elected as a freeholder in 1981,” Vicari said. “I was the mayor of Toms River and he was the mayor of Lakewood. Many times George was the spokesman for the county as well as for the state of New Jersey, through the New Jersey Association of Counties, which he served as president. He was known throughout the state as Mr. Ocean County. George set the standard for public officials. Every single day he did something.”
Singer concluded, saying of Buckwald, “He was an icon of Lakewood, through the rise and fall of the great hotels.”