Search
Mr. Bob Burke
Mr. Bob Burke died on Wednesday in Plattsburgh. He was 81 years old and he was a Fox Hiller. I grew up on Johnson Avenue and the Burkes lived on Elizabeth Street, the next street over. Mr. Burke came in and out of my life for about 50 years.
I first knew of Mr. Burke when I signed up to play Little League baseball at the age of 9. I was on the first-ever Nitzi's team, coached by my dad. That first year Mr. Burke also coached a team, New York and Albany Dispatch. He coached them to the first-ever Little League championship on our side of town. We finished second. New York and Albany Dispatch finished first, led by Eddie Garrant and his couple of home runs almost every game.
Later Mr. Burke became a city alderman. As a youth I had a strong interest in politics and I looked up to the city's aldermen, especially those from my ward, men such as John Flynn and Bob Burke.
In the 1980s I moved back onto Fox Hill and would often take walks around the neighborhood. Often I would see Bob and Betty Burke sitting on their front porch and I'd stop and talk and sometimes reminisce about Little League baseball. He was always friendly, and I had a lot of respect for him.
A few years ago his granddaughter Chelsea was one of my students. During my annual Grandparents Week Mr. Burke came to my class at Chelsea's invitation. Sitting up front with her grandfather, Chelsea looked proud that her grandfather had visited our class. By this time he was experiencing the aches and pains of being a senior citizen, but it didn't deter him from the long journey from the front of the school to my classroom.
Mr. Burke talked to the students about what it was like growing up in Plattsburgh in the 1930s, and about playing sports as a kid, and how he had met his wife Betty, who he married 61 years ago. He talked to students about serving as a Marine during World War II. And before he left, he gave the students some advice about how to become good adults, good citizens.
I always liked Mr. Burke. I hadn't seen him for a few years and when I saw his obituary in Thursday's Press-Republican I was sad. He has a great family, the Burkes and the Baxters. He will be missed, but, as I sometimes reminded my students, Ray Bradbury wrote, "No person ever died that had a family."
His wife, his children and his grandchildren all have wonderful memories of Mr. Burke. They will keep them forever. Chelsea and Jason and the four other grandchildren will tell their children about "Grandpa." He will not be forgotten.
Comments
Foxy.. Thank you for such a nice article about my Dad.. He will be greatly missed.. Shawn
Posted by: Shawn | January 14, 2007 7:03 AM
Foxy, Having grown up on Elizabeth St. I too had the pleasure of getting to know Mr. Burke. Always pleasant, and ready to offer us youngsters his advice he will be sorely missed. Randy
Posted by: Randy Vaughn | November 12, 2006 6:49 AM