A room for Buck

Buck Bender was so revered at the Bird Aviation Museum and Invention Center in Hayden that there's a display highlighting his career.

And he was such a beloved volunteer at Companions Animal Center that his name will live on there, too.

“I think Buck would have liked that because of his love for animals,” said Annie Holmberg, Bender’s longtime companion who donated $15,000 to CAC for a room to be named in his honor.

Bender died on Father’s Day. He was 87. For more than three decades at CAC, Bender filled a number of roles, including fundraising, walking dogs and outreach.

“Whatever you needed, he was always there to help,” said Vicky Nelson, CAC development director. “He was an amazing guy.”

She said people like Bender are hard to find and even harder to replace.

“To have somebody that dedicated to the animals was heartwarming," Nelson said. "He had great concern for the animals and their welfare. He helped get them adopted and adopted some of them himself.”

Holmberg described him as kind and loving, a man who loved life and enjoyed being with people.

“He was wonderful to me,” she said.

Holmberg said they shared a love for dogs. She said life without him is difficult.

“I’m trying the best I can,” she said.

Bender was a skilled aviator who served in the U.S. Air Force and found a niche at Bird Aviation Museum, where he and his small dog, Reggie, were popular greeters every Saturday.

Rachel Schwaim, museum executive director, said Bender was not only a volunteer, but a family friend, even attending her children’s school plays.

The Schwaim family took in Reggie when Bender passed away.

“We know how much Buck loved him,” she said.

Bender served in the Air Force during the Vietnam War. He donated much of his military memorabilia such as metals, pictures, a helmet, certificates and even a jacket to the museum, all of which is displayed in a glass case and on a table.

As a volunteer, Schwaim said, Bender was wonderful with people, answering questions, making them feel at ease and handing out prizes to students.

He easily shared aviation history and his life experiences that put people in the cockpit right next to him.

“His knowledge of aviation and overall general history was incredible,” Schwaim said. 

Reggie, about 10 years old, still greets museum guests Saturdays. Like his former master, Reggie is spirited and happy, sharing a joy that delights those around him.

“Buck loved and adored him,” Schwaim said. “We feel the same way.”