Tod Burke
My name is Tod Burke. My father was Charles Burke, the older brother of my Uncle Mel.
Uncle Mel was one of the most kind, caring, and generous persons that I have ever known. No matter how busy he was or whatever he was involved with at the moment, he would take the time to listen, empathize, and/or advise. It was always family first!
While always inquiring about family, Uncle Mel was not much into telephone conversations. A typical phone call was:
Me: Hey Uncle Mel, it’s Tod.
Uncle Mel: Great to hear from you. How is Steve (my partner)? Bev and Diane (my sisters)?
Me: They are doing great and give their love.
Uncle Mel: That’s wonderful. Thanks for calling.
Hung up!
That being said, when he was in a talkative mood, he would ask me about my career (and retirement) activities, as well as other social and sporting activities.
While it was common knowledge that Uncle Mel was an avid golfer and workout enthusiast, he was also quite the excellent tennis player. His lefty strokes proved advantageous against most opponents. Of course his ability to call “let” when none existed, was also a well-played strategy (then noting he was only kidding).
Speaking of kidding, Uncle Mel had an excellent sense of humor. His quick wit, jokes, and hysterical stories would put most stand-up comedians to shame. Not only could he tell a humorous story, he was always willing to take time to listen to one as well. That was just part of his generosity for the give and take.
His generosity was not limited to humor, as noted above, he was always willing to help and provide any necessary guidance when asked (and sometimes when not requested, but still always appreciated). I often seeked personal advice from him that proved to be of great value; from relationships to financial. When I turned 13, Uncle Mel provided me my first set of gold clubs (that I still own and use when I play). I still blame him and the clubs for my poor effort on the course, but…
Uncle Mel was a great dancer. If there was an occasion where dancing was available, you could count on him being on the dance floor surrounded by onlookers and potential dance partners.
While he was a wonderful uncle, a very successful businessman, and a friend to all, he was most importantly a loving, supportive, and devoted husband to my Aunt Bea (to whom he visited daily when she was experiencing health-related issues), father, brother, grandfather, and great-grandfather.
Uncle Mel lived life to his fullest and will be dearly missed.