Albert E. "Buc" Lambert passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012, at The Gatehouse.
Buc was born on Dec. 8, 1935 in Binghamton, N.Y., the son of Felina DiRocco, whose parents Marino and Marina DiRocco immigrated from the Abruzzi region of Italy and settled in Williamsport.
He spent much of his childhood at his grandparents' home on Jefferson Street in Williamsport's Little Italy, and later in East End, on Adams Street.
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Buc was a player in the first Little League World Series in 1947, a member of the Brandon Little League team. He went on later to become a Little League baseball coach.
While living on Adams Street, he developed a lifelong love for printing, when a neighbor who owned a print shop offered him an opportunity to work and earn a share of the business. While attending Williamsport High School, Buc participated in the Williamsport Technical Institute's printing program, doing a cooperative education experience at Businessman's Press.
He graduated from high school in 1953 and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps at the age of 17. In three years, he earned the rank of Staff Sergeant. One of the highlights of his military career was serving for a short time as a driver for Lt. Gen. Lewis Burwell "Chesty" Puller, one the most decorated officers in Marine Corp history.
After his discharge from the Marines, Buc moved to New York City to attend Mergenthaler Linotype School. While in the city, he also became an amateur boxer.
He returned to Williamsport, working for a time for the Pennsylvania Railroad, before becoming a linotype operator at the Williamsport Sun-Gazette, where he spent the rest of his career, retiring in 1997 as superintendent of production. In the 1980's, while the newspaper was owned by the Person family, Buc traveled to Boston to become an early student of computerized newspaper pagination. He developed the Sun-Gazette's first computerized editorial and advertising content management systems.
Buc was an avid golfer and former member of White Deer Golf Course and Clinton County Country Club. Many of his best memories came from his experiences with his friends who participated in the Tuesday night golf league at White Deer.
He was sports obsessed, a long-time fan of the Penn State Nittany Lions, Duke Men's basketball, and the New York Yankees, and more recently a follower of NASCAR. He also was a political junkie with decidedly liberal leanings. He contributed to several scholarships funds at Pennsylvania College of Technology and was a member of the Peter Herdic Society of the Lycoming County United Way.
Buc reared his children from homes on Second and Fourth Avenues in Williamsport before moving in 1984 to a home he built with his wife on a portion of her Mahaffey family farm along Carey Hill Road. There, he came to love country living, especially raising collies and a Shetland sheepdog, and caring for the rolling hills that formed his large yard.
He was predeceased by his beloved mother, Felina DiRocco Grafius, and brother, Daniel D. Lambert.
He is survived by his wife of 30 years, the former Elaine Helm, and children, Tammy K. (Glen) Adelsberger, of Bethlehem, Albert E., of Tarpon Springs, Fla., and Lloyd R. (Julie), of Dresher. Also surviving are seven grandchildren, three step-grand- daughters, and three great-grandchildren, Blake E. Lambert and Douglas R. Lambert, both of Williamsport; Erica N. Lambert and children Elizabeth and Marquese, of Bangor, Maine; Tiffany E. Lambert, of Bangor; Lance A. (Amy) Adelsberger and son Jacob, of Bethlehem; Lauren K. Adelsberger, of New York City, Savannah O. Lambert, of Philadelphia; Rachel, Sarah, and Megan Giegerich, of Dresher. In addition, survivors include Uncles Daniel (MaryAnn) DiRocco, of South Williamsport, and Kenneth DiRocco, of Montoursville; a sister, Lillian Snyder, of Williamsport; sister-in-law, Mary "Peanut" Lambert, of Millersville; mother-in- law, Estella J. Helm, sister-in-law Elizabeth (Jeffrey) Ward, and brother-in-law Kenneth (Tammy) Helm, all of Montoursville; nieces and nephews, Daniel (Laura) Lambert, of Williamsport; Sherry (Matt) Fischer, of Elizabethtown; Darrin (Pam) Lambert, of Lancaster; LeeAnn (Al) Scott, of South Williamsport; Stephanie (David) Braunbeck, of Montoursville; Rachel (Josh) Ford, of Hughesville; Hannah Ward, of Williamsport; Quintin and Colin Helm, of Montoursville; many DiRocco family cousins, and his beloved sheltie, Jacob Solomon Barkley.
A memorial service will be held 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 22, 2012, at Spitler Funeral Home, 733 Broad St., Montoursville, with Rev. David W. Trostle officiating. Burial will be at the convenience of the family. Friends may call at the funeral home Saturday morning from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to The Gatehouse, where Buc received loving care from Drs. Nesbitt and Brown and the entire staff, 1001 Grampian Blvd., Williamsport, PA 17701.
