John Honored With Naming At Kent State Ashtabula

Hello all, I hope you are all doing well and have enjoyed your summer!

Here is a picture attached of a plaque in John's memory. My mom's new health and science building at Kent State Ashtabula had it's official grand opening today. My Mom funded the Occupational Therapy Assistant program directors office to be in John's memory. He was looking forward to seeing this building open for my Mom. I know he is very proud of her. Talk to you soon.

A Fitting Tribute For His Final Resting Place...

Hello all,

John's headstone was placed on Monday. It looks amazing!! It's such a good feeling too see it in finally! Hope everyone is enjoying the weather and the start of summer. Talk to you all soon.

Marathon Update...

Hello all,

The Cleveland Marathon was May 17th. It was a great time that supported an even greater cause for Team in Training. I finished in 3hrs and 27mins along with Carrie and Stacy. Moe and Amy finished ahead of us because they ran it all. Mile 10 was dedicated to John and mile 11 was dedicated to Luke. It was great to have my parents meet up with us at mile 10 and Luke's parents met up with us at mile 11. There are pictures attached as well. The picture of Jan and I is before we left for the start. Jan is wearing the jersey John wore when he did the Alaska marathon for TNT. There is one of Carrie and I displaying what we wrote for John and Luke. There is also a pic with me, Moe and Luke's parents and one of all us before the start and once we all met up at the finish.

I will post again once John's headstone is in with a picture of it. Hope you are all doing well.
-Jess

Hall Of Fame Honors For A True Herald...

Hope you are all doing well and enjoying our little heat wave. I recently got back from visiting Coach Meyer and the GATOR football team. I had a great time and saw a lot of great football. It was not easy to watch the GATORS without John but I knew he was with me. It was great to see Coach Meyer and visit with him. He and Coach Addazio have their pictures that they took with John last year in their offices; that was great to see.

It was a busy weekend. The blood drive was Friday and they had a good turnout; I think the nice weather kept some people away though. Thanks to all who came out to donate in John's memory.

Last night was the Hall of Fame induction dinner. It was a wonderful night honoring many great Heralds. I was so nervous that I would be a total wreck during my speech then I knew John would give me strength to get through it. It was great to have my parents, our great friends with me and one John's senior football players whose Grandparents were also inducted to the Hall of Fame last night. I have added my speech and some pictures from last night.

John has been awarded his masters degree in Education Administration. It's a great tribute to John for all of his hard work especially since the majority of his time finishing the degree he was either in remission and on maintenance chemo or he was still recovering from his transplant.

May will be here before we know it. It will be a tough month. John's birthday on May 9th. The 1 year anniversary of our great friend Luke's passing on May 11th. The Cleveland Marathon on May 17th. Moe, Carrie, Amy, Jan and myself will all be in purple for Team in Training. We know John and Luke will be cheering us on.

I have also added a picture of John's grave. The headstone is scheduled to be in beginning or mid June. That's about all for now. Talk to you all soon. Jess

Hall Of Fame Speech...

I found out that John was inducted into the Hall of Fame the day he passed away. When Coach Timonere told me that he was accepted I thought if John just heard this he would try to muster up what energy he had and say “I won’t take it I haven’t done anything yet to deserve it give it to someone else”. John was not one to accept honors like this.

John did more than he knows for our beloved school. He wanted nothing more than to see this school survive for so many reasons. He was in the process of finishing grad school and talked his adviser into letting him do all of his projects here in hopes to get more kids in the school and what he could do to make it better for future students. He had gone to CCD classes talking to kids about the benefits of attending this school and all it offers to the community.

John had hopes to become the next principal here once Miss Larson decided to retire. He had his plan all laid out of what he would do here and how he could bring more students here. He wanted to get more students here and wouldn’t hurt to bring in some (as John would say) “studs” for the football team.

The most important thing he did here was form an incredible bond with his football players throughout his time here. Especially the football team this year most importantly the seniors. The seniors have been with him since he first got sick and they never left his side or mine. He taught these boys so much more than football in the short time he was here. He wanted nothing more than to see the boys win but more importantly than football he wanted them all to succeed and be proud of themselves.

I know after seeing what the boys have been through this year with John, Coach Timonere’s baby and with Mrs. Thornton being sick he is so proud of them and will always be watching over them in all that they do. It’s not often you see young men go through what this football team did this season. One of John’s wishes was for his football team and assistant coaches to follow his casket at his funeral. When he said that to me I lost it then I thought how am I going to tell the boys and coaches. He loved this football team so much.

John had many ties here at our school. How could he not he had this energy about him that drew everyone to him. His best friend Geno who he considered a brother. The stories of these 2 here are priceless and Miss Larson can attest to that. His high school coaches here from Coach Iarocci, Coach Roc, Coach Clem, and Coach Perry. His teachers and many friends he made here. Then there was me the lowly 8th grader as he called me at our wedding.

When I was in elementary school I knew I wanted to go to St. John. It wasn’t until my 7th or 8th grade field trip to the high school that I finally understood why. Miss Larson talked to us about what it meant to go to school here it was more than a catholic education it was a second family. Two things that I remember that I will never forget were what it meant to be a True Herald and when you come to this school you will bleed blue and white.

There is no better man that fit those two sayings. John bled blue and white and he was definitely a TRUE HERALD. I know John is in heaven looking down on all of us and this school watching over all that come through here. His memory will never die here because teachers, coaches, parents, and current and past students will teach everyone that comes through these doors about the great man that is Coach Buzz.

Saints John and Paul now has an added angel looking over it. Thank you.

SSJP 2009 Hall Of Fame Inductees

Jess & Eric. Eric's Grandfather and Grandmother was also inducted for their contributions and support of SSJP.

Rest In Peace, Dear Friend and True Herald...

Two Upcoming Events In Memory Of John...

Hope you are all doing well. I have added a picture of John's headstone with the pictures that were added to it. It is going to be amazing. I can't wait for it to come in. It should be in mid to late June.

I have also added the flyer for the blood drive in John's memory. It is April 24th at Sts. John & Paul Gym from 1-7. There will also be a bocce tournament May 15 and 16 to raise money for the John Buskirk Scholarship Fund at Sts. John & Paul.

I'm still working with John's academic advisor on his diploma we should know more next week. He was waiting on the final approval. That's about all for now talk to you soon.

2006 Team In Training Kickoff Speech...

Here is a speech John made at a Team In Training Kickoff Celebration on 2-2-2006. This was his first time speaking at a TNT event he spoke two other times at other events beside this one but this is the only one he typed out.

Running For Leukemia Long Before Diagnosed...

I saw Jan's comment and thought I would explain a little more. Many of you know John ran the Alaska Marathon with his friend Carolyn in 1998. They ran it for a friend who went to Getttysburg who lost her battle with Leukemia. John and Carolyn ran for Team In Training(TNT). It is so surreal knowing that 6 years later we would need the help of The Leukemia Society and TNT.

All TNT participants wear a purple singlet or t-shirt for marathons or cycling. John and Jan were planning on participating in The Tahoe Ride together this year. Jan will be wearing the TNT singlet John wore on May 17th for the Cleveland Marathon. It does fit Jan I saw him put it on! He is very honored to be wearing it for his dear friend John.

Keeping John In Our Minds And Our Hearts...

I hope you are all doing well. Here are a few things that will be happening in John's memory:

There will be a blood drive April 24th from 1-7pm at Saints John and Paul High School's Gym. This will be dedicated in John's memory. I will have a poster with his picture on it in the next couple of weeks and will add it to the blog.

There is a bocce tournament that will take place in May to raise money for the John Buskirk Memorial Scholarship at Saints John and Paul; this scholarship will help a needy student attend this school which is so special to John. I will have more info on a date and where the tournament will take place in the coming weeks.

The senior class at SJP will be dedicating their Baccalaureate Mass to John on June 4th and their Graduation Ceremony will take place later that night.

The Cleveland Marathon is right around the corner May 17th. If anyone is interested John's nurses are guest bar tending at The Blind Pig next Friday from 5-9pm all tips are donated to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Talk to you all soon.

John and the nurses from the clinic who loved him and Luke so much; John and Luke are the reasons they do what they do every day.

John cheering Jan on; it was the mile that was dedicated to Luke last year.

Continued Recognition for Coach Buzz...

John continues to be remembered and recognized for his accomplishments, teachings and the short life he lived with us.

Jess has been in contact with John's academic program director and they working on getting him his master's degree. She thinks it will be a honorary Master's degree since he was supposed to graduate in May.

Mr. Joe Pete from ESPN 970 radio in Ashtabula interviewed Coach Meyer recently and commented on his involvement with John. You can hear the complete interview by CLICKING HERE.

John was also nominated for the Sts. John & Paul Alumni Association Hall of Fame and has been accepted. There will be a banquet to induct the new class to the Hall on Saturday April 25, 2009 at Sts. John & Paul High School. Dinner tickets are $30.00 and you can contact the school at (440) 997-5531 to reserve your ticket if you want to attend.

Moe, one of John's favorite nurses, sent the following information about their "Team In Training" fundraiser:

It’s that time of year again! Come support your nurses! Please join the nurses in an effort to raise money for “Team in Training” which benefits the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Several of the Nurses from Taussig will be guest bartending on: Friday March 6, 2009 from 5:00 pm-9:00 pm at the Blind Pig (1228 W 6th street, Cleveland, OH. 44113)

All tips made, will be donated to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Each participant must raise $1650. Please come and get a beverage from one of your favorite nurses and support a great cause!

Thank you for your support,
Amy Schofield
Carrie Jenkins
Stacey Booker
Moe Tarbuck
Eileen Walsh

Fundraiser This Weekend...

Hope you are all doing well. I have been keeping busy with many things that need taken care of. It is hard to believe that John is gone; it will be a month in the coming days. He touched so many lives it is truly amazing what he accomplished in 33 yrs let alone since he was diagnosed December 14, 2005.

I received a letter today informing me of John's induction into the Saints John and Paul Hall of Fame. I had actually found out the day John passed but was waiting to get the official word. He will be joining his mentor and friend Coach Urban Meyer in the Hall of Fame at our beloved high school along with many other great people. There will be a dinner in April for the official induction. I will keep you informed with more info on that.

On Sunday, February 8th, there will be a pasta dinner at the Assumption Church Parish Hall from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tickets are $6.00 or $4.00 for Seniors and children 3-12. Many thanks to Cheryl Woodward and Janis Brown, both Herald football player Moms, for coordinating this fundraiser. The event will include a 50/50 raffle and Chinese auction. Auction items were collected by SS. John and Paul parents and staff. Football players and coaches will serve the meals. CLICK HERE to see more information and the article about the fundraiser which appeared in the Star Beacon.

Our friends (John's nurses) will be doing a fundraiser for Team In Training to help raise the money needed to participate in the Cleveland Marathon on March 6th at The Blind Pig on West 6th in Cleveland. I'm not sure if I will be behind the bar with them yet or just there cheering them on. They did this last year and many of the Doctors and staff from Taussig Cancer Center (outpatient) and from the inpatient part of the hospital all came. If anyone is interested, I will have more info soon and a flyer with all the details that we will put up on the blog. It I'm sure will be a great time!!

I have added a sketch of John's headstone. It is still in the beginning stages I will be adding a wedding picture and a picture of John's beloved and faithful dogs. It will be a black stone and will be in sometime in spring.

Hope you are all doing well. Thank you all for the continued support, prayers, and comments. Talk to you all soon. Jess

Sketch of John's headstone...