Father John P. Bucki, SJ, a familiar face among alumni, faculty and staff of Canisius College in Buffalo, died Sept. 2, 2017, at St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx, following a long battle with cancer. He was 67.

A Buffalo native, he was born Jan. 12, 1950, to John F. and Adeline G. Bucki. He graduated from Canisius High School, also in Buffalo, in 1968 and joined the Society of Jesus the same year.

He received degrees in philosophy and math from Fordham University in New York City and a master of divinity degree from the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University in California. Father Bucki was a Jesuit for 49 years and a priest for 38 years. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1979.

Throughout his ministry, Father Bucki served in parish and social ministry in New York City and lived overseas in Africa and the Philippines. From 1988-2000, he served as associate pastor of St. Francis Xavier Church in New York City until he was transferred to Canisius College, where he served for 11 years as campus ministry director from 2001-12. At Canisius, he was known for taking many photos of various events around campus and posting them on social media for students to tag themselves in the pictures.

In 2012, he moved to Syracuse to serve in the same position at Le Moyne College, where he served as director of campus ministry and rector of the college's Jesuit community.

Father Bucki was the brother of Hon. Carl L. (Dr. Deborah) Bucki and Dr. Barbara (Dr. Stephen) Ohm; the uncle of Craig (Kathleen) Bucki, Esq., and Rachel, Johanna and Valerie Ohm; and the great-uncle of Colleen and Claire Bucki.

A funeral Mass was held in the Panasci Family Chapel at Le Moyne, with a memorial service also taking place at the homecoming Mass at Canisius College on Sept. 23. He will be buried in the Jesuit cemetery in Auriesville.