by Suzanne Robicheau ('03)

In the summer of 1958, Ron Buckley tucked an engagement ring into his pocket and headed off on a second-hand motorcycle to propose to his girlfriend, Carol Chipman, at the girls’ camp where she was working for the season. After the bike broke down, he hitch-hiked the last 50 kilometres and the rest is history – although a history that is somewhat open to interpretation.

“My faculty advisor, Dr. Smith, thought he introduced us,” recalls Carol Buckley (’58).

“And my geology professor, Dr. McNeil, thought the same thing,” adds Ron (’57).

The truth, according to the Buckleys, is they met on Acadia’s stage crew in the fall of 1955. Carol was in properties. Ron was helping to build sets and he also played saxophone in the stage band. They each had small parts in a dramatic production that featured Cal Annis, Life president of the Class of 1957 and manager of Acadia’s first varsity football team.

“We did a lot of walking and talking that year,” recalls Carol.

During their time at Acadia, Carol worked at the library and Ron was a Geology lab assistant. He also participated in the Air Force University Officer Training Plan. In their free time, Ron was a willing dance partner and they attended everything from sock hops to formals. “Why not?” he asks with a broad grin. “It was a good excuse to hug in public.”

Ron graduated from Acadia in 1957 with a BSc in Geology and moved to Montreal to pursue his MSc at McGill. Carol followed soon after, earning a diploma in Physical Therapy while completing her BSc through distance courses. She graduated from Acadia in the summer of ’59 and married Ron that September. Their first child, Michael, arrived the following year, followed by siblings Neil, Jill, and Gail.

Ron’s career as an exploration geologist took the Buckleys to Alberta for 32 years, at which point he retired as VP of Hudbay Oil International. After returning to Nova Scotia in the fall of 1992, he and Carol made their home in Port Williams and opened a B&B in a renovated rectory between Wolfville and Canning. Never ones to sit idle, Carol practised home care physiotherapy and together they sold their homemade cider at the Truro market, leaving home at 5 a.m. on Saturdays to be there on time.

Loyal donors for decades, Carol and Ron have supported Acadia in many ways – from the alumni fund and student financial aid, to the chapel choir and Sunday Music in the Garden Room. Individually, Carol contributes to The Curtis H. and Margaret T. Chipman Achievement Awards, established by her father, Curtis Holmes Chipman (DCL ’93), and Ron recently established The Buckley Family Award for full-time science students in second year who are majoring in Earth and Environmental Science (formerly the Department of Geology).

“It was Carol’s father who inspired me to give,” says Ron. “He was very generous while he was alive, and when he passed away in 2009, the balance of his estate went to 19 different charitable organizations, including Acadia.”

Acadia is clearly a family affair for both Ron and Carol. Ron's late brother, Dale, graduated from the University in 1959 with the same degree Ron received, and, like Ron, went on to graduate school. Carol’s impressively long list of family connections begins with her ancestor, Isaac Chipman, who joined Acadia’s faculty in 1840 – at the age of 23 – as a professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy. Not only was he responsible for gathering the volunteer labour and donated materials for the first University Hall, but he also initiated work on Acadia’s library and a college museum.

With guidance from a financial investment seminar arranged by the Nova Scotia Nature Trust – another beneficiary of their generosity – the Buckleys are making their own mark on Acadia and its students. “It was very helpful to hear the presenter explain the financial advantages of giving stocks to charitable causes,” says Carol. “It really makes sense.”

Ron and Carol are keen travellers, which has afforded opportunities to give in other ways as well, including 10 years of volunteer work in Cuba, which began with teaching English as a Second Language. Family also keeps them busy, and they enjoyed spending time with their granddaughter, Lauren Buckley (’18) when she attended Acadia before moving to Australia after graduation.

“We really loved having Lauren here,” says Ron. “It would be nice to see more family attend Acadia.” With 10 grandchildren and six great grandchildren – the youngest a year old – the odds are certainly in their favour.