George Memon's passing on Tuesday, October 4, 2022 has been publicly announced by Martin Hughes Funeral Home in Staten Island, NY. 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. View the profiles of people named George Burke. There was the main house, over here was the bar, over here was this big dining room, and this was the main house. And you would have been taxed in this country if it was already like that. As a young adult, he joined the U.S. Air Force and served in the medical department, spending time in locations across Europe and Alaska. They gave me the fabric and they did it and such. Burke: Oh, well, when I was inI guess I was in England. Interviewing George Burke, and. Burke: Oh. But under that porch was the basement. And Diane said, Oh, Marian has it.. So she said, Bess said, Were going to have to quit, George. I said Oh, shit. So he came out. So, Id do that. George Burke was born on Staten Island and grew up in Annandale before moving to Florida with his family. I wanted to know some more details about the life tenancy. Burke: Chris will stay living here. Devoted father of Matthew I. Burke, Jason L. Burke, and Georgina P. Burke, all of Hull. Or next to the chair where she was sitting. John T Burke passed away on April 22, 2015 in Whiting, NJ and is under the care of. And, minute he bought the house, did a little work in it, put it right up for sale. And then I decided Id get involved again with things that are going on. And shell be caretaker. Yes, by the time I got to do all that I had no money left. And there was a whole other floor, another story, and its built with the French style, in the French mansard. And he asked me would I be interested in working for him out here on Staten Island. Was very little time on here. Betsy P. Thompson East Greenbush, New York. Its empty. Ill give you a job. We had beautiful stuff in our home, all the time. And that makes more sense to people when they see something. Burke: And that was called the Tidewater Inn. And that was the end of that. Syosset. Daller: So can you imagine a three room apartment filled to the brim with antiques? So they said, You better get back here and do something. So I came back, got out of the military, got a job working for Saks Fifth Avenue. So here I was with all this stuff, sending it home to my family, sending it to my sisters. I mean, as a kid going down here crabbing, down on the beach, we used to look back at the house all the time. Must have been twelve big columns, it was, oh! And thats what I called out for was help. I was born right in the hospital across the street, and grew up 90% of my time on Staten Island until I became old enough and I joined the military. Okay. Burke: Well, Ill tell you, there wasnt that much in storagethe stuff that was in storage wasnt big pieces, maybe one or two. And one day, I was sitting in the dining room. February 15, 2023 (81 years old) View obituary. Daller: Well, you got involved with Burkes Landing with Scalia. George Burke. Q: And you knew the style from having studied the history of design and architecture. Its still there. Daller: And that house was beautiful. And she had this woman who was a caretaker. So I gave it to them. And I renovated the bar, I renovated the other side, my two sisters came to work for me, running the kitchen and the dining room. Unfortunately. Burke: Oh my god. . Daller: Well, remember how much it took to paint the whole house, and how you had to paint sections of it? And we used to say, Wow, wonder who lives there? What were the things that you did when you were young? And each little petal and everything is done beautiful. Cohasset crypto case: Everything court documents reveal. And I got a good price for that. My mother and his wife never got along too well. Burke: Oh, it was a relationship over whole period. Valley Stream. It was terrible. He painted that for me. So finally, I think, the old lady died, didnt she? Oh, that was the ghost in Tottenville. And also about the history of Staten Island, or the style that the house is decorated in, the Victorian style, your collection. Staten Island, Richmond County, NY Genealogy Site - Staten Island Recent Obituaries I remember you always loved it and liked it. Because she begged me. Q: Yes, you can tell me about your early life and the memories you have of growing up here. Burke: the Historic House people did give me a big bronze plaque to put on the front of it. So my mother decided she would make it into a two-family, and rent out one part of it. Burke: Hawaii. Q: So about this house, I wanted to ask about the Friends of the Seguine Mansion. And I only have so much money being what I am. So he said, Dont worry about it. And he saw the way to help out, and I said, well form a board and what well do is well continue to have fundraisers in order to support the house, but we need additional help and support as well. Q: How did you establish a relationship with the Parks Department and the Historic House Trust? People: Mario Buatta, Luis Caizares, Linda Daller, John Krawchuck, James and Kathleen Pistilli, Adriana Scalamandr, John Scalia, Elizabeth Bess Seguine Aug, Joseph Seguine, Organizations: Friends of the Seguine Mansion, Historic House Trust, House of Scalamandr, NYC Departments of Parks and Recreation, Sherwin-Williams, U.S. Air Force, Places: Annandale, Hammersmith College, Port Richmond, Old Bermuda Inn, Saks Fifth Avenue, Seguine Mansion, St. George, Staten Island, Tidewater Inn, Tottenville, The New York Preservation Archive Project. Put through the years, people recognized it and everything. Yes. They were great. He said he believes that whoever was in that other house, really didnt want people there. I cant think ofdoesnt matter, the name of the people. I spent enough time breaking my back. So I said to her, I said Bess, the only thing Ill save your house is a bulldozer! Burke: Theyll come in, but youll have to have somebody as a guide. Burke: Yes, but just think of that gorgeous, bigthe mansion that this was their farmhouse, up the street here, that was gorgeous. Yes, of course, they could eat all the grass. I dont know if it ever took off. Staten Island. You want to have someone living in it, you cant have an empty house. And all these houses would never here! Prepare a personalized obituary for someone you loved.. Casey Funeral Home Kathleen Burke, age 78 passed away at Richmond University Medical Center after a brief illness on January 26, 2023. I mean, this was just a farmhouse. I bet. And thats where we are today. The Seguine nestled in the back of his mind, Burke joined the Air Force and moved to London when he was 19. They cant develop it. Well, on theon the fireplace there, those two big candelabras, theyre Meissen. And then, it was declared unsafe, and they come in and knocked it down. Daller: Yes. And he did the big sofa in there, didnt he? Burke: Well, youve got to thank Mrs. Seguine. I was maybe nineteen, twentysomething like that. . I found a beautiful place in Tottenville and I opened it and called it the Tidewater Inn. And I had a beautiful restaurant and a bar connected to it. He worked by himself. So if this can remain a part of the history, thatll be great for people to appreciate. Q: So part of why it closed was because. And underneath it was a whole kitchen and dining room that opened out to under the porch. It feels like home, because thats what its been. And I said to the real estate lady, I said, Well, how do you know theres a ghost in there? She said, Because the old lady that originally lived in the house. I was seventeen years with the Air Force. It has to stay exactly as an old plantation house. 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. Burke: Yes. I cant remember her name. All Rights Reserved, Town Departments at Work: The role of each part of your local government. And if they only would have remained, they would have been a part of it, and everything could have been fully appreciated. George Burke. So because it was done like the French did, I never had to pay tax, or only tax on a two-story house, instead of a three-story. So all the big mansions were built with outside kitchens. But big stuff like couches and chairs and that kind of thing. Now, this is a portrait of Joseph Seguine. Where were you stationed and what was it like? I saved it years and years ago. She said, Now you can save it., And I said, Well, I can save it. She was great, I loved her. Q: Was that house that you restored in a similar condition as this house? Burke: So I did that [sold the Tidewater Inn]. And I want somebody to take care of it. Q: I wanted to ask, also, theres a painting of you in the house, right? And I, throughout the time, I went from room to room in the house and restored it. I dont think anythings missing? Burke: I knew that. She lived up on Lighthouse Hill. And she couldntthey couldnt keep up with it anymore. Burke: So, in other words, fifty years from now, if someone wants to learn about the house, they can find out. And Ill see to it that, financially, things work out for the two of us. From last time I saw it, it looked like it needed a bulldozer! She said, No, no, no. She said, you can save it. But when I die, they say theyre going to make a museum out of it. Q: Yes. That was gorgeous. If you dont want to come dont show up. And he said since hes been here, he has nobody here. Daller: That was the house that had ghosts. That was her name. She was great because she would know. Mrs. Mackey. In my early twenties? That was Mrs., what was her name? And he was stationed here, in St. George, and he would come home and wed live in the house. And after he died the family still lived like we had my fathers money involved. Beloved husband of Rosanna (Ialuna) Burke. And then I shipped it all back home. But I dreamt it and I knew every single thing about it. Burke: Well, I knew how to do it. Im sure some will. And I always used to say, Wonder who lives there! and so forth and so on. Burke: Right across the creek. They were all womens stuff. And I never had timesometimes Id be sleeping on the pool table there because I just couldnt leave! Mom, you own the house, you own at least part of it, or half of it. And Ed was very good at taking dents and things out of cars and he could spray paint. You just named them. Burke: Yes. And I made a lot of money. Just landmarked. Theyre all McMansions. You can go and look and read about anything about the South Shore of Staten Island. That was all what she had in mind! There was nine of us in the whole family. Finally, I think his wife got sick with that lung disease, didnt she? I should really do something to save it. And it just was luck that I had just sold a real estate deal and made a lot of money. So they went into repairing things. And I was the assistant to the general who was the surgeon for the European Command. But you used tell me. What are we gonna do here? So he said, Well, I really love doing this, George. And I said, Okay, John, thats fine. And so I had all that stuff in my apartment. I found these here on Staten Island in somebodys basement! She was the girl who hired me, and she ran the big Sherwin Williams store. 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. Otherwise, Id never be able to have half the stuff thats in here because it would have cost me a private fortune to have it shipped. So I go downstairs. Q: Can you tell me about studying interior design? And how people went along with them, I dont know either. They were all six floor walkups and, thats where you lived! I dreamed, I saw it. Yes, she died and she was in the front parlor in the coffin, wasnt she? And I had beautiful big pieces of Meissen that I got when I was in Germany, and it all went here and there andI cant get it back. It was piled up in their basement. And as I said, for a thing of whiskey or a bottle of wine, theyd give you anything, because none of them have had it for years and years. Create an obituary. We were only allowed so much. Daller: Well, he said, he felt that house had spirits in it. So while I used to work then with them, and then I decided, this is not for me. I loved being there and everything. And that went for years. Because there was a big double parlor like this on one side of it. 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. The following is a roundup of obituaries published on SILive.com. You buy me out. And he bought me out. She was a nasty old lady! But that was funny. I restored that, and that was an old mansionan old pillar-fronted mansionlooked like the house, similar. So, thats it, I said, to hell with it. But, with that money, I paid this house off. Daller: Well, no, Mrs. Seguine allowed him to buy, Burke: No, I already had this house from the first deal. Donald was born August 16th, 1954, in Staten Island, New York, to Michael and Eleanor. 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. Burke: Yes, I had to go down in the basement, and put a post, and then I had to jack up the stairs. Put a candle right in the middle of that floor and go take a walk. [laughs] He called it the one-candle house. And there were two windows, like this. You can retire. But they donated it to the Sisters of Charity, figuring that the nuns could live in that gorgeous mansion. But not long ago, I was talking about it. And my brother Bill and my brother Ed decided to go into an automobile repair shop. Then I went looking for the big pieces. Come here, Marge. I said, What? They said, Sell this goddamn place. Oh, God, I worked so damn hard. Q: Yes, absolutely. And he was studying art and he painted my portrait that shell show you, thats upstairs. I mean, I had a beautiful condo in Florida. Most of them were like china and vases, such like that. But they are the ones thatup in arms, saying, Aww, that poor horse. What the woman who was caretaking her, what she had to do was constantly keep lilacs next to the bed. And then finally she sold the house and she bought a beautiful place in Greenwich Village and moved to Greenwich Village. And I went from room to room and it took me a couple of years, didnt it? Because I certainlyI never passed up a bargain. Daller: So not that much time was spent on Staten Island. Its a part of the history that should remain. Theres a bunch of little houses now built all along through their gardens. 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. Its been so long now. Burke: Well, I hope it gets maintained. And they repaired all these taxis, repainted them, and then sold them all to Cuba. They moved in there, and they lived there. You werent on Staten Island. And the kitchen was outside. In fact, he was just a few years older than I, and wasnt it last year we were trying to locate him? Burke: Oh, yes. [laughs] And I lived there for a long time. That was the mansion. Q: Did you keep up a conversation with Mario Buatta about. George Burke. And then the people that moved out left a bunch of old furniture, and these were the two that they left. So that makes sense. While stationed in England, he studied interior design and architectural history and began to collect antiques through estate sales and flea markets, focusing on ceramics, paintings, light fixtures, and many other decorative items from the Victorian era. Daller: If they cant ride, why should they be here? 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. The mansion, oh god. And thats what they were doing in France to keep from getting it taxed. And I went in and I noticed my big box was gone. Its just a shame. The stables were here for years. And it was quite difficult to maintain the big house we were living in. And I wanted these little chairs tufted but he had passed away before he could get around to tuft. And I had a little house in Tottenville so I decided, well, Ill move into this big housein hereand Ill get rid of all the property that I have in Tottenville. And I took the money. He was the top interior designer in New York. He had come into my room when I was not there, stole everything. Burke, who knew of the home and property from the time when he was a child, was committed to the challenge. And I went around and we all hadyou were only allowed to buy two bottles of wine and a bottle of whiskey, or something. Up until a year ago, he was still cutting the lawn! Then upstairs, was all the bedrooms. But alls I know, they closed in New York and they moved out there. Syracuse. Yes, but it was weird. Q: And will the board continue and play a role in in that? Lets stay friends. The orientals that originally were on the floor here, I put up in the bedrooms upstairs. Burke: Like a locket. Anyway, I said, Oh boy, did I have a scary dream. I told her my dream. So I had all my goodies packed in a box, getting ready to go. Oh shit, Im going to have to rebuild the wall. So I started pulling the bricks out, and wrapped up where one of the bricks was, was an oil cloth rag all wrapped up. They just went and just vandalized it to hell until there was nothing but a shell left. Leave a sympathy message to the family in the guestbook on this memorial page of George Burke to show support. But down here, all the beautiful homes that were down here are gone. He used to stay out here. And finally, we met with John Krawchuk, when he became in office. That was something that you had restoredis that right? So she was always, Come on, George. And all my brothers. Its no different from home. And the backyard is beautiful. He was an old craftsman from the other side. That woman, she lived in riding clothes! And I said, Was that a dream? Daller: He did the sofa upstairs as well. I had a bulldozer two weeks, riding back-and-forth, and back-and-forth, and back-and-forth across the front of the house because you couldnt see the house from the water.