'Our mother was a force to be reckoned with': Aurora's first female mayor dies at 92

Evelyn Buck died on Dec. 21 after a brief fight with multiple myeloma

Yorkregion.com
Dec. 23, 2020
Aileen Zangouei

Evelyn Buck, a prominent former mayor and longtime councillor for the Town of Aurora, has passed away on Dec. 21.

She died after a brief fight with multiple myeloma.

Buck was the first woman to serve as Aurora’s mayor and, after serving two terms, went on to become a councillor.

She was a widow and a single parent, who raised five sons and two daughters.

Her daughter, Theresa Buck, said their mother passed away with love surrounding her and on her terms.

“She chose a beautiful day. It was the solstice and the first time in 800 years, apparently, that the Christmas star was visible,” Theresa said.

“It was as dramatic as she could have asked for.”

“Our mother was a force to be reckoned with. She loved her clan, both on this side of the ocean and across the world. She stood up for what she believed in, even in the face of adversity or unpopular opinion.

She said it and she firmly stood by her words,” Theresa said.

Theresa added that their mother would also share stories of her lifetime at every opportunity that presented itself.

When Buck was a councillor seeking re-election in 2014, her top three election issues were high taxes, the need for partnership with local business to be stimulated and for local employment for family self-sufficiency to be a critical need.

During the pandemic, Theresa said their mother did her part by staying home, staying safe and would loved to have gone out to shop and support small businesses in Aurora.

Mayor Tom Mrakas took to Twitter to offer condolences to Buck’s family and friends.

“Saddened to learn of the passing of Ms. Evelyn Buck. She cared deeply about our Town and was involved in municipal politics for many years, served as Aurora’s first female Mayor. On behalf of the Town Council, I offer deepest sympathies and condolences to Ms. Buck's family and friends,” Mrakas’s tweet reads.

Buck served on Police, Public Health, Hospital Boards, Conservation Authority, Children’s Aid Society, Fire Protection Services, Public Planning and Provincial Social Assistance review Board.

Evelyn Buck Lane in Aurora was named after her.