I grew up hearing about Bucky Reardon, a legend of the Newport waterfront. Much later our paths crossed on a number of occasions. Bucky was the mate on “Bolero” while she belonged to John Nicholas Brown. Fred Lawton was the Captain. Bucky revered Fred Lawton, who was an even greater legend.
Bucky later was the paid hand on “Figaro” for Bill Snaith.
In 1977 when I was sailing on “Independence” vieing for the America’s Cup; Bucky turned up with a new kind of deck shoe called “Barnacles”. They were frankly better than topsiders and we all started wearing them. Unfortunately our syndicate had a contract with Sperry Topsider so the Barnacles appearance was short-lived.
I would phone Bucky about once a year. Really I wanted to hear his stories of the past. They were fine stories of the era before us. Stories for another day. Today we remember Bucky.
James “Jim” “Bucky” Reardon died Nov. 30, 2012, surrounded by his loving family.
He was born on June 9, 1931, in Newport, R.I., son of the late John and Marion (Baxter) Reardon.
He is survived by his loving wife, Janet (Brady) Reardon; five children, Kathy (Robert) Kurisko of Massachusetts, Kara (Ken) Navan of New York, Kevin Reardon of Florida, Sean (Cherie) Reardon of Virginia, and Liam (Nicole) Reardon of Massachusetts; seven grandchildren, Christopher and Timothy Marciante, Kayla, Julia and Nicole Navan, Kate and Lauren Reardon; a brother, William Reardon; and two sisters, Patsy Robertson and Suzanne Reardon of Newport, R.I. He is predeceased by a brother, John Reardon Jr
At a young age, Jim discovered a love of sailing that took him around the world to win such races as the America’s Cup, Fastnet and the TransAtlantic. He was a member of the Royal Ocean Racing Club in London, England, Cruising Club of America and the Storm Trysail Club.
Jim married Janet (Brady) Reardon on Nov. 11, 1961. During their 51 years of marriage, family and faith was his key priority while raising a family in Larchmont, N.Y. After he retired, he enjoyed time in Cape Cod, Massachusettsm, and Burnt Store Marina in Punta Gorda, Fla.
He graduated from Providence College with a degree in mathematics and was a former shoe buyer at R.H. Macy & Co. Recognized for his attention to detail and one who delivered results, Jim’s mantra was, “I deliver.”
Visiting hours will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2012, in the Hallett Funeral Home, 273 Station Ave., South Yarmouth. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 5, in St. Pius X Church, Station Avenue, South Yarmouth. The burial will follow in Chandler Gray Cemetery, Chandler Gray Road, West Yarmouth.
At the request of the family, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Sisters of Mercy, 21 Searles Road, Windham, NH 03087; or Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital, P.O. Box 1893 Memphis, TN 38101.