O'Hara orthodontist had a love for Christ, people
Guy Bucci had a passion for Christ that shaped his life and affected the lives of everyone who knew him.
"It came out in everything he did," said his wife, Rebecca Bucci. "It came out in his painting. It came out in his music."
Dr. Guy A. Bucci, 59, of O'Hara, died Sunday, Nov. 4, 2007, at UPMC Shadyside. He had been diagnosed with cancer about five months ago.
Dr. Bucci was a practicing orthodontist for 28 years in the Shaler and Lower Burrell areas. He consolidated his practice to Shaler about 13 years ago.
Mrs. Bucci said her husband already was feeling ill a year ago when he went on his last mission, a trip to Mexico to provide dental exams.
"He just said, 'I've got to go and help these people,' " she said.
His well-thumbed and underlined Bible is testament to the passion of his faith, Mrs. Bucci said.
"He loved the Lord Jesus with all his heart," she said.
Dr. Bucci frequently played piano, performing at several area churches over the years. Guy Christian Bucci, of Dallas, said his father's paintings were mainly landscapes, and his crowning achievement was a painting of the Pittsburgh skyline as seen from Mt. Washington.
Dr. Bucci was a quiet and reserved man, but not standoffish. He talked to everyone everywhere he went and was ready to help anyone who asked, his son said.
"If you ever needed to know what to do in a situation, you could call my dad," he said. "He respected people. Everybody was equal to my dad -- there was no bias at all."
A 1966 graduate of Central Catholic High School, Guy Bucci received a bachelor's degree in mathematics from the University of Pittsburgh in 1970. He received his dental degrees in 1976 and 1979 from the University of Pittsburgh Dental School. During this time, he was a member of the Army National Guard.
Anne Marie Bucci sometimes worked with her father, so she saw firsthand how he got involved in the lives of others.
"He cared more about people than about money," she said.
Patty Pollock worked with Dr. Bucci since 1981.
"He always put others first -- a very caring and loving man," she said.
Longtime friend and professional colleague Dr. Frank Tominac said Dr. Bucci was highly respected in his field and in the community.
"He was always a person who had time for you," Tominac said. "He really had a great compassion, and he had a very caring, loving heart and a great amount of patience."
Dr. Bucci had been diagnosed with renal cancer when he met Bishop David A. Zubik shortly after Zubik's installation to head the Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese. He offered Zubik a prayer for the bishop's success and didn't mention his illness, which was typical, Tominac said.
"He didn't ask for himself. He always did for everybody else," Tominac said.
Dr. Bucci was preceded in death by his first wife, Patricia Curran Bucci.
He is survived by his wife, Rebecca Hair Bucci; a son, Guy Christian Bucci of Dallas; three daughters, Ann Marie Bucci of Sharpsburg, and Michaela Grace Bucci and Gabriella Joy Bucci, both of O'Hara; two grandchildren; a brother, John Bucci of McCandless; and a sister, Nancy C. Police of Plum.
Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. today and Wednesday at the John A. Freyvogel Sons Inc. funeral home, 4900 Centre Ave., Shadyside. A funeral service will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the Allison Park Assembly of God Church.
