Frederick W. Van Buskirk

BARRE TOWN - Frederick W. Van Buskirk, 77, passed away Saturday, October 29, 2016, at the Central Vermont Hospital of natural causes.
Born in Pennsylvania to Dr. Frederick and Margaret (Moffitt) Van Buskirk, Fred moved to Vermont at a young age and spent his childhood and adolescence growing up on Burlington’s “Fraternity Row.” He graduated from the University of Vermont and from Syracuse University obtaining a masters in journalism. After college he took off for New York City landing stints with an ad agency and with Newsweek. His career, however, was interrupted by Uncle Sam who called him to teach English in the Army’s GED program. Following his service, he decided to seek a job in Vermont and ski a season. That winter started a long-term career with a national health agency that took him into every town in Vermont at one time or another. With so much traveling, he had no time to find a suitable office for his organization and turned to Bud Heney for assistance. Years later, playing in a tennis group of retired and senior businessmen including Bud, Fred again expressed interest in real estate. Bud said if he passed the test he could join his company, then W.J. Heney & Sons. Fred passed and began his second life-long career in Vermont.
Fred loved real estate. Initially attracted to it by the opportunity for autonomy and self-direction, he realized, after 20 years, what “held him in” through up and down economies was the connection and satisfaction it gave. He loved helping a new buyer or someone who hadn’t bought or sold a home for a long time navigate their way through the process. “That’s the fun, that’s the satisfaction,” he said. The fun and satisfaction, however, was not always appreciated by his family. The yearly Christmas ritual of the dining room table covered from end to end with hundreds of holiday cards to be stuffed, addressed, and sealed was one tradition they could have done without. Even family outings included some aspect of real estate, whether it was stopping at the office, or checking on a listing. Fred was the commensurate agent totally dedicated to his job.
In addition to real estate transactions the business provided other satisfactions, such as serving as Central Vermont Board of Realtors President in 1998 and serving on a number of local board committees. Fred’s greatest satisfaction, however, was working in the Heney office. He enjoyed the staff immensely, especially his gals, Alice and Carol. Without them, navigating the world of technology would have been a disaster.
Fred was an avid tennis player. Nothing, not even real estate, would interfere with his games. Every Tuesday and Friday morning he would dash off (usually a little late) to meet with his friends. In later years, as the group matured, the playing slowed to a weekly session. Fred continued tennis until recently when his health prevented it. Fred loved skiing almost as much as tennis and spent many winter days hitting the trails. Tennis and skiing were his recreation and his therapy.
Survivors include his wife, Suzanne; his daughter, Lauren and her husband, Bobby, of Virginia Beach; his sons Andrew and Freddie, both of Vermont; a sister, Marianna and her husband Edmond Little of Jericho, Vermont; two brothers, George of Massena, New York; and Emmett and his wife, Jo of Bristol, Vermont. He also has several wonderful nephews and nieces; Krista Hammel of Essex Junction; Stacy and her husband, Mark Mailloux, of Kingston, N. H; Jeremy and Mariko Matsumura Van Buskirk of Boston; Cameron and Lorena Van Buskirk of Virginia; and Duncan and Amy Van Buskirk also of Virginia.
In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Barre Town EMS who worked so diligently trying to keep Fred with us. A memorial service will be held Saturday, November 5, at 11:00 AM in the Barre Congregational Church. Calling hours will be Friday, November 4, from 6-8 at the Hooker and Whitcomb Funeral Home. A reception for friends and family following the service will be held at Fred’s home in Barre Town.