A Fond Farewell To Bob Burke, "The Lucky Irishman" Of Fourth Place In Carroll Gardens

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 John Burke being honored at a Veterans Day ceremony in Carroll Park in 2013

 In his front garden on 4th Place between Court and Clinton Streets in 2011

 "Margie's Heart" which Bob planted to remember his wife every spring

Bob Burke and his daughter Marcie (with Petey, the dog)

With great sadness, I learned about the passing of one of Carroll Gardens longest residents.

John "Bob" Burke passed away at the age of 97 on March 31st, leaving a huge void in our neighborhood.

I was first introduced to Bob in 2011 by his daughters Alicia and Marcie.  Alicia had reached out to PMFA to tell me about her father's special garden on 4th Place between Court Street and Clinton Street.  She wrote: "My Dad, Bob Burke, has been delighting the area with his garden for more that 25 years. He plants what he calls "Margie's Heart" and young and old stop to admire it. He loves to remember my Mother but also creates this scene to reach out to his neighbors."

I immediately stopped by his home to admire his heart of marigold which he had just finished planting that year. He was a lovely man, who delighted me with stories of his life.

Bob had lived on 4th Place since 1930. He arrived in this country from Ireland when he was just a child and first lived in Carroll Gardens with his aunt. He remembered a simpler time in the neighborhood. "I played fist ball on the street. You were lucky if there were three cars on the block."
As a young man he spent three years in the National Guard. He saw action at Guadalcanal and in the Philippines. In between, he spent 2 months in New Zealand. "Those two months there were beautiful." he told me.
When he came back to Carroll Gardens, he never left again. It was obvious that he loved his neighborhood, his home and his family. "I am a lucky Irishman." he told me with a twinkle in his eye.

In 2013, Bob was honored for his valiant service to the country at a Veterans Day ceremony in Carroll Park.

My heartfelt condolence to Alicia and Marcie and the entire Burke family.  

Bob, his smile, and his lovely flower heart will be very much missed here in Carroll Gardens.