Mollie Eileen Buckley, Former Theater Membership Director, Passes Away

Mollie E. Buckley

PRAIRIE DU SAC--Mollie Eileen Buckley, 72, Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin, passed away on Sunday, November 13, 2011 at The Pines in Prairie du Sac. She was born November 30, 1938, in Kokomo, Indiana. Following her high school graduation in 1956, she worked at the Kokomo Tribune as editor of the TV-radio weekly section, which ultimately led to her move to Madison to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she majored in journalism. At the UW, she served as the editor of the Badger yearbook. She graduated in 1961 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism.

Mollie spent most of her adult life in Madison,  where she held various positions including Public Information and Membership Director, The Madison Arts Center; Director of Public Information, UW Center Systems; and Publicity Director, Wisconsin Union Theater and Wisconsin Union Membership Director. In 1984, she joined the UW Foundation staff as director of communications and in 2001 was named a vice president.
A stroke forced an early retirement in 2002, but it did not dampen her spirit or enthusiasm for the university and for the football and basketball teams. She was a loyal supporter of the university and was a member of the Foundation’s Bascom Hill Society. She also was active in Women in Communications for many years, serving as vice president for the national organization. In 2002, The Mollie E. Buckley Scholarship Fund in Journalism was established with gifts from co-workers, colleagues and friends to recognize and honor her 40-year career in communications.

Mollie is survived by three sisters, Nellie Rusk, Monica (Mike) Fewell and Patricia (Bob) English, five nephews; her close friend and caretaker for many years, Judy Ashford; and many friends and colleagues in the Madison area. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one brother-in-law.
A celebration of Mollie’s life will be held by friends, colleagues and family at a later date. Family graveside services will be held Friday, November 18 in Kokomo. Memorial contributions may be made to the University of Wisconsin Foundation, US Bank Lock Box, P.O. Box 78807, Milwaukee, WI 53278-0807, with a notation on the check stating in memory of Mollie Buckley.