In a life that included anecdotes from his days as a roller derby skater and trainer, his two terms spent as a trustee and later as mayor of the Village of Hillside, John “Don” Buchanan had ample fodder fueling the endless stories for which he was best known.
“He had plenty to reminisce about,” said his wife of 56 years, Vera. “He was a great storyteller, a happy-go-lucky guy, who always left you laughing.”
But according to loved ones, Mr. Buchanan was most proud of his association with the Loyal Order of Moose, an organization known for its dedication to family values.
“The Moose is where his true passions lied,” said his son Stephen. “He believed in the camaraderie of people getting together for social and charitable events and supporting each others families.”
Mr. Buchanan, 78, of Hillside, a World War II veteran and former mayor of the village, died after a long battle with a heart ailment, Saturday, Oct. 22, in the Department of Veterans Affairs Edward Hines Jr. Hospital, near Maywood.
Born in Buffalo, Mr. Buchanan grew up outside the city, where he attended local schools. After graduating from high school, he served stateside with the Army for a couple of years in World War II.
After his military discharge, Mr. Buchanan became a professional roller derby player, and later a trainer, traveling to cities across the U.S. It was then that he met his wife, Vera, who was also a roller derby player.
After their marriage in 1949, Mr. Buchanan and his wife moved to Chicago, where Vera was from, settling in Hillside in 1955. Soon after, he joined the Hillside Police Department as a special officer and later served two terms as a village trustee.
In 1968, when former Village President Philip Romiti was elected as a Circuit Court judge, Mr. Buchanan was chosen to fill in as mayor.
“One of the things I admired most about Don was his willingness to see everyone’s point of view,” said Hillside Village Clerk Pat O’Sullivan, who knew Mr. Buchanan for more than 40 years. “
During his short stint as mayor, Mr. Buchanan was credited for modernizing the Hillside Police Department, updating equipment and installing for the first full-time police officers.
After his term as mayor expired a year later, Mr. Buchanan chose not to run and accepted a position as the Michigan state director with the Loyal Order of Moose. He held that position for 18 years before his retirement in 1989.
“Don not only lived the values of our organization, he embodied them,” said Bill Airey, director of Marketing and Membership for Moose International.
Other survivors include another son, James; two sisters, Joan Torsey and Patricia Rivers; and four grandchildren.
Mass will be said at 10 a.m. Friday in St. Domitilla Catholic Church, 4940 Washington St., Hillside.
