“Cancer”, the word no one wants to hear. “Terminal”, the word that makes it final. “Weeks to live”, the words that drop you to your knees, that no family ever wants to hear.

Yesterday, Tuesday, October 7th, 2025, the Buck family heard those three statements. Their husband/father, William “Bill” Buck, whom many of you know from his many years as a pharmacist and legislator, was diagnosed with metastatic cancer of the spine, lumbar, and skull. In less than 24 hours at River Hospital in Alexandria Bay, Bill has been put on comfort care in hopes of reducing his pain in his final days. However, in his few moments of lucidity since being there, all he continues to say is “I want to go home”. Because of his final wish of being home, that is of the utmost importance, first and foremost, to his family.

The true time frame of Bill’s life is unknown. As plans for transportation home and being immediately put into comfort care commence, I first ask for your support in the form of prayer. Prayer that he is able to go home, to go peacefully surrounded by the people he loves, and with as least pain as possible. Your support in all forms means the world to them! The harsh truth though, is that the costs will mount quickly during this time, and the costs of those final days should be nothing his family has to worry about. Every dollar will help ease their financial burdens as they take the time to say their goodbyes. I have set up this GoFundMe to help pay for his transportation home, medical bills, travel expenses for the family to be with him, and his final arrangements when the time comes. Thank you for your thoughts, prayers, kind words, and support in all ways, thus far and going forward!

You can send any direct donations to his daughter as well, via Venmo, @erin-buck-82