I mean, its physically impossible. [laughs] And I lived there for a long time. And I studied architecture and the history of design and everything, I know all that. Q: And did you keep records of the restoration process? Sign up to receive a notification daily whenever there is an update on this obituary. They tore down those two nice little cottages that were there. The walkway going to the beach, its still there, where the house was. He said, What in the hell youre buying this old piece of shit for? He said, Is it insured? I said, Yes, I took big insurance on it. He said, Good. [laughs]. George "Sonnyman" Preston Burke, age 83, of Brazoria passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 1, 2021 with his family by his side. George Harry Burke, age 76, departed this life and entered his eternal Heavenly home on September 17, 2021. I grew up loving it and always having it, and my mother was great with it. Q: Was it a similar style? But it doesnt work that way. Theyre all McMansions. You can go and look and read about anything about the South Shore of Staten Island. And I had to have somebody upstairs, standing on the stairs, and told me when to stop jacking, when the stairs got level, because the stairs were like this. Help NYPAP document and celebrate NYCs preservation movement. Right across the creek. And their mansion, the White people that owned SS White, the White family, owned right across the creek, there, where the Captains Quarters [private development] are. Did you know that from? Sign up for our free funeral planning reminders to ensure this important decision isn't forgotten. Monday, February 18, 2013 Carol Abbott Ellis Q: So those things that you got later on, afterthey didnt come from Europe. Dont forget I, for yearsin London, I went to university. Copyright 2023 Echovita Inc. All rights reserved. Q: Was that here in the house? Theyre all gone. And he was stationed here, in St. George, and he would come home and wed live in the house. But those things, I couldnt. But I dont remember seeing the main house. But the old lady that lived there was very, very sick. George Frederick Burke, honored husband, father and grandfather, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017. Burke: No, who gave me that? And thats what I called out for was help. Burke: Oh, and then the house, when I bought it, everybodythe real estate lady, she wouldnt come in. And so shes got the bridge, and it costs money. September 19, 2015. I mean, its just normal living in a normal house. A brooch that I gave Bess? Daller: From Michael and Jennifer, your nephew. I bought the house and Bess and Marge came over. Lawrence George Burke, age 88, of Dallas, Texas passed away on Tuesday, November 2, 2021. I bought another restaurant, didnt I? And she had this woman who was a caretaker. I cant think ofdoesnt matter, the name of the people. George Burke was born on Staten Island and grew up in Annandale before moving to Florida with his family. Copyright 1998 2023 New York Preservation Archive Project. Yes. And I went to Hammersmith College. He introduced me all the time tobecause look at look at what he was. And then finally she sold the house and she bought a beautiful place in Greenwich Village and moved to Greenwich Village. And we cant come over here because both of them lived way out in New Jersey, and theyd come every day. Thank you so much. Burke: It was. But the story that was cuteremember the lady in England, the antique dealer, that used to bring her bottles all the time? So by the time he came back, all this had changed. Burke: But everything will stay here exactly as it is, because if its going to be a museum, people are not going to come in and look at empty walls. They just went and just vandalized it to hell until there was nothing but a shell left. Theres too much business going on here. So were talking about this and talking about this. Im giving nothing away. Daller: Yes. Q: So its confidential becauseoh, okay. And they were going to pay for everything if they owned it. But unfortunately, it all fell in. Baker & Sons Funeral Home - Brazoria in Brazoria, TX. And it never had a kitchen. Theyd go in and theyd take the windows out and theyd use the windows, and they destroyed it. Must have been twelve big columns, it was, oh! Daller: No. Save my house. And I thought, Oh, shit. I was down on the beach one day, I forgot what were doing. So I still had to get up every day and go to work. She lived up on Lighthouse Hill. Staten Island and the South Shore is the only place where people can still move, be in a country feeling, and build what they want to build, and have a garden and have a lawn and, you know, they can be in the country and still be in the city. Q: Can you tell me about the ghost in that house? So I just grew up with it, knowing it. But what she did is she sold off parcel after parcel in order for her to live here in the house because she had no income. I dont need The Death of Cleopatra hanging above my fireplace. Doug is survived by his children, Bradley Burke and his wife, Shirley and Suzanne Muller and her husband, Thomas. So I said, Well, Bess, if youre interested in doing it, Im interested in doing it.. And then, it wasI guess that was in the spring, then later on, I dont know what I was doing. The ceilings had fallen down because a lot of the drain pipes had leaked. No, it wasnt that. Family and friends are welcome to send flowers or leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with the family. Visiting hours Friday, October 8, 2021 from 4-7 pm in McNamara-Sparrell Funeral Home, 1 Summer St. (across from St. Anthony Church), Cohasset, MA. And when they werent in the house, they would go and buy them at the stores, and there was always lilacs in the house. Its empty. Its a big plaque on it, its landmarked and everything. Jerry Allen Burke, Sr., 81, of Berry Lane passed away on February 14, 2023 at HopeHealth Hulitar Hospice Center. There is no photo or video of George J. Burke.Be the first to share a memory to pay tribute. And my neighbor across the street, who had lived there forever, she comes over again with a couple of little plants for me. It was unbelievably gorgeous. The kitchen was never in the basement. Q: So what was it like when you had the house finished and furnished? That was Mrs., what was her name? I mean, I couldnt do stuff like that all the other stuff I could do. So if this can remain a part of the history, thatll be great for people to appreciate. Because you never finish, youre always finding something to do. Burke: Oh, well, look what I did. So I went around and looked and looked and I said, You know, I could open a restaurant. And I walked around and I found a couple of nice places. Daller: He did the sofa upstairs as well. I loved Alaska. And because of that, and especially the interior design thing, I went around, did little jobs, and did things, and because I learned so much by going to that to school there, that when I got back here, I got nice little jobs here and there. Daller: You werent here. And I took interior design and the history of architecture, and something else. Some kind of jewelry. And I decided, well, Im going to pick up some nice buildings. Daller: Oh, I dont know. He was the top interior designer in New York. I said to him, Are you kidding? George was born And people were selling anything out of their house to support themselves and live. Did quite well. Every memory left on the online obituary will be automatically included in the book. March 10, 2022 I cant think of the name of the thing now. And I finally got to meet Mrs. Seguine because she had stables at that time. I slept in it, lived in it, ate in it. A little planning now makes a big difference later. Echovita offers a solidarity program that gives back the funds generated to families. This whole corneryou could stand and see the street out there, so this whole corner was rebuilt. Obituary of George Burke George M. Burke, 62 , of Freehold Township, died Saturday, June 18, 2011 at home. I said, I still have friends that myour parents met before we met. George W. Burke, age 63, of Hull, entered into eternal rest on October 2, 2021. Burke: Of course, Id been in Alaska for all that time. So I took that out of the brick and I got some cement, put it all back in, put the wall back up. If you are going to stay, you better do this this and this, whatever the hell it was. Of course, over therewhen I was over thereEngland was just getting out of the bad part of the War [World War II], and they had nothing over there. Well work it out, one way or another. And so the two of us started and we madecalled it the Old Bermuda Inn because John loved Bermuda and he was putting a lot of money in it. Sure, Id no idea of ever owning his house because I had a beautiful big house in Tottenvillebig French style house. Daller: I mean, that big wrap-around porch that went all the way around the house. 17 Southwest Avenue Tallmadge, OH GEORGE BURKE OBITUARY George Burke's passing at the age of 76 on Sunday, February 20, 2022 has been publicly announced by Donovan Funeral Home - Tallmadge in. And, of course, being in the military and traveling with them, the government shipped all my stuff that I bought and picked upshipped it all back to America for me. Q: Yes, absolutely. Interment will follow at Holly Hills Memorial Park. And there was nobody but my mother and I now, living in our house. Beloved husband of Rosanna (Ialuna) Burke. I mean, this was just a farmhouse. I mean, how did you decide what to purchase, what to collect? And there was French doors that went out from the basement under the porch. The mansion had a huge ballroom and everything in it. In a house that you dont even own? And as you see it today was from me doing all those little things. A reception will follow the services at the funeral home. But anyway, she said, Im not going in the house. Id love that old house. I said, But Bess, I said your houseI dont know about saving it. Burke: So that should pretty well cover it, I think. Obituaries Services . Would you? Its unreal! And I went in and I noticed my big box was gone. My brother, he come in and he said, What are you, nuts? And I often wondered what happened to that brooch because I gave it to Bess. 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. So I said to her, I said Bess, the only thing Ill save your house is a bulldozer! And Diane said, Oh, Marian has it.. Ill help renovate it, fix it up and such. And thats what we did. And the only reason why this survived is because nobody wanted the farmhouse! We are sad to announce that on March 10, 2022, at the age of 99, George E. Burke of Utica, New York, born in Augusta, Georgia passed away. And thats what I did. Burke Memorial Park. Well, he lived on Staten Island. 1411 Vintage Lane, Rochester,New York, 14626, Proudly Serving the Communities of Rochester, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Spencerport, Parma, Ogden, Churchville NY, Copyright Bartolomeo & Perotto Funeral Home Modern Funeral Home Websites, First Steps | Obits & Eulogies | Etiquette, Frequently Asked Questions About Burial and Cremation, Copyright Bartolomeo & Perotto Funeral Home . Why cant they just appreciate something for what it is? Im no bulldozer!. Hear your loved one's obituary. Then I startedI said, You know, theres a lot of things on this end of the island nobody wants, its the forgotten-end of the island. Well, the paintings and the small stuff like thatthat like that mirror and those paintings and all that stuffthat was all the little stuff. And if they only would have remained, they would have been a part of it, and everything could have been fully appreciated. So they went into repairing things. That works! Thankfully, no ones come here and said, Oh, you might have had slaves. I mean, Im sure if somebody came and decided to look back, theyd say, Oh, no, theres a reason for a house like that. People have ideals that are very strange. And right there in front of the windows was a coffin with all the flowers around it and everything. He come over he looked at it. And, then I gotwhod I get from the city? They couldnt handle it, the clientele that came in. Then she got to the point where she couldnt keep it anymore. And thats where she was. She said, You saw her in your dream. I said, Holy shit, I said, you think that was her? She said, It could have been her. I said, Then she went like that and chased me out of her house. She said, That was her. So I figured, hmm! So I went down in Rossville and I bought a beautiful, big old, rundown place and restored it completely. Burke: To put it backbecause the house was ruined, it was in terrible shape. But the one that I remember was a great big brooch. And when I seen it all over there, and when I seen the British people were poor as church mice, they were selling everything. But under that porch was the basement. Its down in Tottenville, beautifully done. Now the little girl had to be moved to Wall Street. Ill tell you the good stuff! [laughs] And that was it. And then, on the side of the house in the back, there was a little piece built out. So here I was with all this stuff, sending it home to my family, sending it to my sisters. So I couldnt take any of the clothes. I want it now. I could never get it. Daller: It was like, we cant even find him anymore. She was a very good friend of mine, a really pretty lady. Hes been maintaining it for forty-plus years. So Id go over there and, of course, Bess Seguine was always over there. And I was the assistant to the general who was the surgeon for the European Command. Burke: the Historic House people did give me a big bronze plaque to put on the front of it. 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 was the reason we chose to do a White Party. And he had helped meyou know, while I had my own ideas for design, and whatever I thought of, he said, George, thats great. I mean, these little gold chairs, are Victorianthats a Victorian chaireverything is really Victorian. And then the Historic House Trust will use it as well to understand whats important to you about maintaining the house. The front porch was up high. But the upper story of the house was two more floors. Because we went to about every Air Force base in Europe there was, and I got around to see everything. And now theyre buildingI havent seen it, but Linda says its a huge house theyre building. Its Meissen. What a damn dream, there she was, laying in her coffin there, with her finger at me. I went to grammar school and high school here. Q: I mean, I live in a small apartment, so what is it like to live in a kind of museum quality home? And my brother Bill and my brother Ed decided to go into an automobile repair shop. So a lot of the things that you acquired to furnish the house were in poor condition, and then you have them reupholstered and restored. Print Friendly Version. Thats why I did what I did, because I figured that if anything ever happens to me, all of this, now, will have to stay as it is. George was born on January 7, 1936 in Union City, New Jersey, and grew up in Jersey City. The mansion, oh god. Dear brother of Alice McGrath, the late Thomas Burke, the late James Burke, and the late Dorothy Milligan. I had all the plasters done. The one in particular, United States Steel [Corporation]. Im going to retire, Im going to go down to that big old house, restore it, fix it all up, move in it, and enjoy it. And the basement was beautiful, where you can walk out onto the porch and out into the garden. But the basement was the summer dining rooms and summer kitchen. And after he died the family still lived like we had my fathers money involved. Most of them were like china and vases, such like that. Burke: Well, I hope it gets maintained. And I dream that I heard some noise. ALCOLU - George Wayne Burke, 82, husband of Constance McInnis "Connie" Burke, died Sunday, May 24, 2020, at his home. Daily Obituaries. I restored all those buildings down in Tottenville, all those great old buildings. Visitation will be Tuesday from 6 PM until 7 PM, with a 7 PM prayer service, at the Church. Its a beautiful house. And they said, Well, we cant handle it, George. So I went out and I said toI had two roommates, and I said to my roommates, Wheres my box? And they said Oh, well, Sergeant Joiner came in and took it. I said, Oh, no! I went running out. So theres no more Scalamandr, I dont think, is there? Daller: Well, you did at a certain point, because you have a lot of photos. And shell be caretaker. Unfortunately, all the grounds areI dont even know if the house is there anymore! George W. Burke, of Hull, died on Oct. 2. So, I would saywhat was it?the spring, and in the back of the house was the entrance to the cellar with the double doors, where you walked down the stairs, and it was all brick, and it had the doors. And its three little girls sitting on a bench with big baskets of flowers in front of them. Q: Was it Mario that suggested the life tenancy agreement? Most of the furniture thats hereI never furnished the house until I owned it. He retired from BOCES as a bookkeeper. So I went up with Father Tom and I had to take care of all those Eskimos, if any of them got sick or hurt this or that. And one day. Daller: But he has albums upstairs, photos. according to his obituary. Daller: Then you got rid of thatbut those are the early days. Burke: Oh, God, Mario come out here all the time. I mean, one year, the oil bill here was $11,000. Oh, we were crabbing. She was on TV complaining about it. But that was the cistern for doing all the laundry and everything in the basement. You know, everybody grew up together. It was terrible. It was under your bunk. Yes. Send flowers. And she was living here all by herself. What will I do? And I had two or three other girls that were there. He was the husband of Patricia (Rogan) Burke to whom he was married for 68 years. Beloved husband of Rosanna (Ialuna) Burke. Daller: The stables. But, God, that was almost 100 years ago, you know? They were the Mackeys. I said, Where are you? She said, Well, I moved out years ago and went back to Georgia. The story about the coat that you had from Alaska? Im sure some will. GEORGE BURKE OBITUARY. He did so much work for you. And then, on the third floor, which was in the mansard roof, that was all the servants quarters. They really dont know what history is all about. Last Name "Burke" Rochester, NY Bartolomeo & Perotto Funeral Home, Inc. - Rochester Wednesday, October 5, 2022 Add Photos 1 Memory George Washington Burke George Washington Burke, 86,. Yes. Photos of George Burke | Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home - Proudly Se. And they copied that from France, because thats what it was, it was the French mansard. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at https://www.nationalcremation.com/location/irving- for the Burke family. So thats how that all came about. And Im glad I did what I did, about just giving it to the National Historic Trust. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. Ill do that. So that was over in Port Richmondits still there, I understand, the store. 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 how people went along with them, I dont know either. After Burke returned to Staten Island, he purchased and restored two houses and an old restaurant and bar before he was contacted by Bess Seguine in 1981, who had inherited the then-deteriorated Seguine Mansion. Burke: But I forgot what the other two things where. Theyre deciding they want to build, so they tear down and build. Because it was a big roof, like this, and then the gutters run around. But when I die, they say theyre going to make a museum out of it. Q: Okay. And I made a lot of money. And I was always a horse person. I could make another funeral parlor out of that. And I said, No, lets not make a funeral parlor. Obituary George T. Burke, 76, passed away peacefully, from multiple health issues, surrounded by family on February 20, 2022. Burke is joined in this interview by his niece, Linda Daller. He worked by himself. Yes, the dining room and the kitchen was on the other two, side. And that guy, look at the size of that house he just built. And we used to say, Wow, wonder who lives there? . Sign the Guest Book. I was always in the operating room or someplace like that. It has to stay exactly as an old plantation house. But I had all this beautiful carved stuff. Burke: Scalia. And that was a couple people from Tottenville, caused all that. She was a member of St. James Catholic Church in Lititz, PA. Well, do you know what your preferences are? And then of course, being in New York and being in the thing like that, I got to be very, very good friends, with Scalamandr. With that old fabric, theres enough to make drapes for one window. That house, it was a big French mansard, big Victorian. Q: Can you tell me about moving the collections here, out of storage and out of your sisters houses into this house? And so people saidthey took all the horses and they moved to New Jersey. So it didnt matter. Burke: Yes, Mario come out all the time. And the backyard is beautiful. What the hell is that coming from? So I come down the stairs, and as I got down the stairs, the spelling got stronger and stronger. I loved being there and everything. Burke: Yes. Good God! That place took off like you couldnt believe. And then Id been in Europe all that time. Off of Hylan Boulevard? Burke: Down in the basement, my friend Eriche was great, with this Ouija board and all this stuffand he said, George, lets do a seance! So we got a bunch of people together and we went all down in the basement. I found three things like that. Youd have to see the house to see what Im talking about. Burke: The only thing is, the house will be closed. I bet I left the cellar door open under the stairwell, from the basement, and I bet thats the soap Ive got in the washing machine that smells like that. And my other sisternow, of course shes passed awaybut now her daughter took it, and the daughter gave it to her daughter. Winds E at 15 to 25 mph. [laughs] But, itll be here. And also about the history of Staten Island, or the style that the house is decorated in, the Victorian style, your collection. Thanks very much to you. I could. In 1964, he settled in Union Beach. Of course, when I bought the house, that was all weeds growing up among the bricks. And they were big floors. So it just became a moot point. One woman wouldnt go it, cant think of her name. And then I went through floor and room after room, and took almost five years to put the house in good shape, the way you could see it. He was in the Air Force. The son and his wife took over Scalamandr. She said, George, when she died, she was laid out in the coffin, right in that room, in front of those two windows. Its a part of the history that should remain. Burke: I think that waswhod ya call-it got me involved with that. If they brought flowers, it had to be lilacs. So I said, Oh. So that was thatI got that little story. It was so overgrown in the front yard and everything. below. Its all stay in here. But some strange things did happen in the house. Burke: Yes, he did that little sofa there. But Id go off with Murphy and wed go to these estate sales and most of the stuff thats in here was, I bought and shipped it all back. And people were coming from all over the island. I have questions about closets too! I think I got the two of them for five bucks or something like that. Friends will be received from 2 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 1, in the SKIRPAN FUNERAL HOME, 135 Park Street . And its still there, its all there. Daller: Right, we really dont discuss any of that. Destroyed. A couple of years ago, I painted them this color, didnt I? He says, Hes my good friend, and so on, We live on Staten Island. And I got to know a tremendous amount of people that way. Developers. Check your settings when you are happy with your print preview press the print icon below. A lot of the windows were broken out of it. And Luis was really, really a great guy. The woodwork, the moldings, the parquet floors. And she was laying with her arms, like that. You want to have someone living in it, you cant have an empty house. And she wanted to start running things and taking things over. Or was that brother Ed? He upholstered that chair with the things in the back. But unfortunately, all the stuff up there was cured by urine. June 23, 1941 - February 14, 2023, Age 81. Because I certainlyI never passed up a bargain. And I loved it. I had just bought this house, and it needed a lot of work. Staten Island was very early on, and then Florida, and then off to Europe. George Burke got a phone call in 1981 from his old friend Elizabeth "Bess" Seguine Aug that changed his life. Wed go down through the junk yards and whatnot. All rights reserved. Burke: Well, look at the mansion! Burke: Okay. Because she would always want her bottle of booze. Brother Bill? My sisterher mother [indicates Daller], Francesmy sister living in the Bronx, she got me a little apartment and she got me a job working for Saks Fifth Avenue. Q: Yes. It would have been spectacular but greed set in, and thats what they did. They gave me the fabric and they did it and such. Echovita Inc is a registered trademark. That was her name. So one day, my sister Bess said to my mother and me, she said, Go pack. George was the youngest son of David Burke and Adeline Luker, born June 26, 1944, in Bayville. Christ, a good ten, twelve years. Anyway, there was three things that I found by doing some worklike, giftsI forget what they were. Thats whats in this whole house, all the things you see. Is that what you want? Burke: Oh, my nephew. They didnt even have soap. And I was in the medical department, worked in the operating room. The importance of saying "I love you" during COVID-19, Effective ways of dealing with the grieving process, Solutions to show your sympathy safely during the Covid-19 pandemic. I hope it isnt that the people who have access come in and empty it because Ive had people say, Oh, when youre not here, Im taking that painting, and Im taking that painting, and I want that couch, you know. Well, by this time, I had a lot of money. Tell me when you want me to start. Write your message of sympathy today. Bartolomeo & Perotto Funeral Home 1411 Vintage Ln, Rochester, NY 14626. Then I got shipped to Europe.