George passed away in October 1980, at age 58. I cant go and say, You know, fifty years ago that was mine, and I never gave it to you. Well, it doesnt matter, her name. Thats the usual setup, I think, for historic houses. And he was stationed here, in St. George, and he would come home and wed live in the house. Yes, but it was weird. Where were you stationed and what was it like? And now the people that I sold it to, the Pistillis [James and Kathleen Pistilli], they had the whole thing researched and now its got landmark things on it and everything. And I, throughout the time, I went from room to room in the house and restored it. Q: Yes. But the one that I remember was a great big brooch. Q: And, do you keep records on, on those kinds of things? And there was nobody but my mother and I now, living in our house. You couldnt tell what it was. Would you like to offer George E. Burkes loved ones a condolence message? Did you know that from? It doesnt happen on the North Shore because were very condensed and its a dense population. Born on August 15, 1925, she was the daughter to the late William Harold and Marie Trentman. I was maybe nineteen, twentysomething like that. Beloved husband of Rosanna (Ialuna) Burke. Because it was a big roof, like this, and then the gutters run around. Thats what I was. In fact, he was just a few years older than I, and wasnt it last year we were trying to locate him? About Funerals; About Cremation; Pre-Planning; Grief & Healing; Contact Us (473) 440-2302 . Is that what you want? George Burke Obituary It is always difficult saying goodbye to someone we love and cherish. Burke kept records of the work, most of which he completed himself and financed the through the sale of his business, the Tidewater Inn. Would you? Its unreal! Courtesy of Michael Kushner. I had a dream thatin my dream, I woke up and I was laying in bed upstairs, and I could smell lilacs. Just landmarked. Burke: And that was called the Tidewater Inn. Christ, a good ten, twelve years. And she was laying with her arms, like that. So thats where I got most of the stuff thats here in the house today. Unfortunately, you got to find environmentalists, theyve got to look for things and theyve got to point things out. From last time I saw it, it looked like it needed a bulldozer! She said, No, no, no. She said, you can save it. And my neighbor across the street, who had lived there forever, she comes over again with a couple of little plants for me. Burke: Ed. Burke: Oh, what I want to do isover that fireplace, I want to take that painting downand bring my painting and put it over that fireplace. And then when they decided thatthey owned a beautiful house on one of the Keys in Florida. Oh my god. We will miss him dearly but are thankful he will be embraced by his dad George Smith Lindsey and his mom Azasha J. Lindsey, who preceded his death. No, it wasnt that. And all this beautiful stuff, I used to put in a big box. Write your message of sympathy today. A unique and lasting tribute for a loved one. Check your settings when you are happy with your print preview press the print icon below. And getting an American Dollar from being in the service, getting my payeven though it wasnt that muchbut at that time, over there, it was worth a fortune. But they tore the house down to build that school. And a friend of mine I was very good friendly with was John. George Burke's passing at the age of 83 has been publicly announced by C.T. Well, I was born on Staten Island. And my fatherwe were quite wealthy, growing up. Dont look at me. Where all the servants lived. And if they were there and I could see them, and I could ship them free because the government had to ship it for me, and I had my sisters, who would store them for meI had had a great opportunity to pick up all this stuff that was beautiful, get it for nothing, and the government ship it back for me, and my sisters would keep it until I got a place to put it. And everyone became extremely close. Daller: But it was the thing with the lilacs smell. All my life, I was raised in a big house. Photos of George Burke | Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home - Proudly Se. And have something on a loop in here, which weve been trying to do, where itll be an audio and a video of him discussing the house, because nobody knows it any better than he does. Burke: Oh, God, I stood on the edge here and I watched what was going on over there. Burke: So I did that [sold the Tidewater Inn]. Q: You mentioned that the South Shore has changed in the last few years. Always curious and seeking information, George started a second career with Siemens, where he worked for ten years as a Service Specialist of Building Technologies. I mean, as a kid going down here crabbing, down on the beach, we used to look back at the house all the time. If you are going to stay, you better do this this and this, whatever the hell it was. October 17, 2022 Burke: And its great when you have friends come, you have extra bedrooms, you can put them all up. This old? I dont know what it is. And that painting of me, thats upstairs in my bedroomdid you ever see it? Print Friendly Version . Thats the only way to explain it. And then when you could see the house, it was a goddamn mess. I want it now. I could never get it. Im sorry that, during all that construction, I wasnt taking photographs, of step by step. And here was the street. And I looked in the thing, I said, Holy shit. We have a choice in having a caretaker come in also to maintain it. And they said he had the box, and took it with them. You made enough money. Brother Bill? Well, Bess, and my brothers wife, Evelyn, never got along. Eventually, he was able to move his collection of Victorian-style furnishings safely into the home, and add to it larger pieces of furniture to complete the restoration. And these roofs had big arches, like this. Q: [laughs] How did you figure out what needed to be done with the house? But they did a lot for me. And even though the house belongs, in essence, to Historic House Trust, they werent reimbursing him for anything. Share. But the basement was the summer dining rooms and summer kitchen. Mrs. Mackey. A little planning now makes a big difference later. He was the husband of Patricia (Rogan) Burke to whom he was married for 68 years. You werent allowed to buy much because it was worth a fortune over there to the general public, to the British. The only thing that will save this house as a bulldozer! [laughs] But anyway, I saved it. They didnt even have soap. If you want to come in a business with me, John, lets make into a beautiful restaurant. So he said, Okay, Ive never owned a restaurant, but Id be willing to try it, George. So I said, Well, John, youre gonna have to put a lot of money in it because you have all the money, as being who you are. And I was a medic. He was the husband of the late Diane M. (Marshall) Burke. And they said, Well, we cant handle it, George. The beloved husband of Rosanna (Ialuna) Burke, he was the devoted father of Matthew I. Burke, Jason L. Burke, and Georgina P. Burke, all of Hull. So that makes sense. George wouldnt want anyone to mourn his life in sorrow, instead, a celebration of life will be held later in 2022. I mean, Captains Quarters, instead of building all those condos down there, it would have been beautiful to have another stately home there. Youre working too hard. And then finally I had a man come in and talking to me about how hes bought a place on Staten Island that hes opening up a place like Saks only not as nice. can stop at any time. Your email will not be used for any other purpose. And we had our barracks, of course, and having your barracks, the only thing you had was a big trunk where you kept all your clothes in. Dont forget I, for yearsin London, I went to university. Because my house was right across the street from it. The one owned by the steel companywas that a beautiful house! And it was very much built like this house. So all the big mansions were built with outside kitchens. Daller: Its life estate that he has. Are you still interested? And I said, Well, of course I am. And, you know, who has that!? So I made sure it was filled in with dirt the rest of the way, so I wouldnt have that water getting in the basement. And then I shipped it all back home. Burke: Yes. I had the best collection of the most beautiful carved ivory and things because they didnt have money but they would give you things. And thats what I called out for was help. But I dont remember seeing the main house. I dont know, Im just used to it. Burke: Oh, my nephew. Born: On March 9, 1927, in Philadelphia, he was . And where to get the good buys, and all that kind of thing. All these walls used to be white. George was the youngest son of David Burke and Adeline Luker, born June 26, 1944, in Bayville. We had beautiful stuff in our home, all the time. She was great because she would know. Q: And how did you keep track of all the items in your collection as they were moving from, Burke: Well, a lot of this stuff, I never got back, because once you left it for years and years, you werent going to go back and say, Well, give me that, and give me this. Was it your mother I gave her all the blue and. Yes, and I had bought the house, but I couldnt have the house and move in until she died. If they brought flowers, it had to be lilacs. So I said, Oh. So that was thatI got that little story. Burke: What its been like for you to live here. And I took that room and made it into the dining room. That poor horse. And, oh, nobefore then, when I had moved in, I had moved in, and the house had been empty for years. So we brought that point up a few times. George was born December 26, 1959 in Jacksonville, FL. Then I was down in Florida for a while and Im wondering, Well, what in the hell am I going to do in Florida? What was I? Burke: Of course, I come from a big house. And I loved it. Rain. Restored the building, looked around, come down, bought this house from Mrs. Seguine, and then moved out of the bar and restaurantbecause I had a room upstairs in it. Yes. Share Obituary. Its still there, you can see it. But that was a condo. George was an engaged conversationalist and even better listener. Burke: Okay. So finally, I think, the old lady died, didnt she? And they copied that from France, because thats what it was, it was the French mansard. Early life [ edit] Marshall was born in Plainfield, New Jersey. People that owned U.S. Steel, their mansion was over there. Q: And did you keep records of the restoration process? The house is haunted, she said, if youre interested in it, George, heres the key to the front door, you go. And as I said, there was a big flight of stairs that went up and a big porch across the whole front of the house. Theres too much business going on here. So were talking about this and talking about this. And if theyre gonna make a museum out of it, theyre gonna have to pay somebody to greet people and take them on tours.