Robert Paul Burke, 86, passed away Monday, April 4, 2022, at his home surrounded by his family. Bob was born March 16, 1936, to Rose and William Burke in Waltham, Massachusetts.
Bob served in the U.S. Army in Chinon, France in the early 1960s where he began his training as a distribution and transportation specialist and was honorably discharged in 1964. Bob worked in the food distribution business for the same company for 46 years starting as a shipping clerk at Medford Terminals and advancing to President at Foxboro Terminals. His knowledge and expertise in what is now known as supply chain management was sought after by major US companies who sent their executives to learn from Bob. In his retirement, Bob worked at a local elementary school as a crossing guard, which earned him the honor of “Hero of the Year” by the 4th and 5th-grade students at Hopkinton, MA.
Bob was a mentor to many volunteering as a little league baseball and Pop Warner football coach in Malden, MA. He was an avid sports fan and enjoyed watching professional sporting events as much as watching the local youth sports teams. Watching games with him was an experience like none other! Bob brought joy to family, friends, and others with his singing, guitar playing, card tricks, and karaoke performances and sang at weddings, nightclubs, churches, and many family holidays and backyard parties with friends and family. He sang Sweet Caroline before it was popular, and his rendition of My Way was second to none. He loved old movies and was an avid reader and he instilled this love in his children and grandchildren.
His best accomplishment though was the love of his family and friends. Bob is survived by his wife of 63 years, Rose; daughter, Cheryl (Lucas), sons, Robert Jr. and partner Jen, Stephen Burke, and wife Rose; grandchildren, Olivia Lucas, Sofia Lucas, Coleman Burke, Oscar Burke, Jasper Burke, Linda Burke, and Emma Burke and in-laws Jack Lucas and Shawn Burke. He is one of 18 children and is survived by his brothers, Joe Burke and wife Roberta, Nick Burke and wife Nancy, and brother-in-law Dominic and Margery Gualtieri: Susan Matsuyama and Nagao. He was the kind and funny uncle to his beloved nieces and nephews. He is predeceased in death by his parents, Rose and William Burke, his mother and father-in-law Nicholas and Ida Gualtieri, brother and sister-in-law Sam and Rosemary Gualtieri, and 15 sisters and brothers, Kay, Bill, Alice, Theresa, Helen, Mim, Esther, Mary, Jenny, John, his twin sister, Virginia, Margie, Elizabeth, Jim, and Jerry.
Funeral services will start at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, April 13, 2022, at St Joseph’s Parish, 790 Salem St, Malden, MA. Burial will follow at Massachusetts National Cemetery, Connery Ave, Bourne, MA 02532 at 1:45 PM. In lieu of flowers, you can make a donation to No Kid Hungry at https://www.nokidhungry.org/