James Leo (Buddy) Burke didn’t stray too far from Montauk’s Fort Pond, and he didn’t have to. Everything that made him happy was right there, according to his son Alan Burke.
Mr. Burke died in his sleep on Feb. 5 at the age of 95.
He was born in his parents’ house in Montauk’s original fishing village on Fort Pond Bay on Aug. 8, 1928, and lived in an apartment on Fort Pond Road until his death.
“That son-of-a-gun, he loved to dance,” his son said. “He was horrible at it, and didn’t care what music was playing. He just did it so much, everybody loved it. He’d eagerly pull the closest female to him onto the dance floor. He’s certainly up there now dancing in the clouds.”
Born to James Leo Burke and the former Evangeline Pitts, Mr. Burke attended Montauk’s public school until eighth grade. His father was a fisherman whose family had come south to Montauk from Nova Scotia.
“They were kind of poor,” Alan Burke said. “He’d collect coal from the railroad tracks so they could heat their house in the winter. Rich in the summer, poor in the summer, but always had good fish to eat.”
He met his future wife, Helen Row, at the Montauk Manor, where he was a taxi driver, and she was a waitress. The two married on Aug. 15, 1950, and had three children.
Mr. Burke was a bowler and would often play at East Hampton Star Lanes, now shuttered. He also enjoyed fishing, “especially bluefishing,” his son said. “My brother, Jay, had a boat. We also had a boat when we were younger as a family. He’d play the accordion on holidays even though he couldn’t read a note. He played it by ear, and he was good. I have no clue how it happened or how he learned to play. As kids, we thought every family had a dad that could play the accordion. We thought it was normal.”
Mr. Burke owned and operated an oil burner repair business called Burke’s 24-hour Oil Burner Service, that he sold 20 years ago. He was known for being compassionate in his business practices, “often charging clients less for his services if they could not afford the regular prices,” according to his son.
Mr. Burke was a volunteer fireman in Montauk’s Engine Company #1 for 15 years and was a past president of the Montauk Lions Club.
Mr. Burke’s first marriage ended in divorce, and he later married Florenda Dumagen, who was with him until his death.
In addition to his wife and son Alan, he is survived by his two other children, Jay Burke and Elise Prado, all of Montauk, and by seven grandchildren. A sister, Margaret Lockman, lives on Florida’s west coast.
Mr. Burke’s ashes will be interred at Fort Hill Cemetery in Montauk this spring.
