Bob Burke, a Forestville native and Russian River resort operator whose charity group brought joy into the lives of children suffering from severe medical conditions and disabilities, died of a heart attack at his home Thursday. He was 63.
Burke co-owned with his sister Burke's Canoe Trips, the four-acre river resort their parents established at the intersection of Mirabel and River roads in the late 1940s.
He also was founder of Bob Burke's Kids, which for decades has sought to brighten the lives of children dealing with cancer and other health problems. The organization sponsors weekly barbecues and outings for hundreds of ill children and their families. Burke made countless home and hospital visits to his young patients.
"He was a great man with a heart as big as a redwood tree," said Jim Maresca, former Monte Rio school board member and board president of West County Community Services, which served as an umbrella organization for Burke's group.
Burke was a hospital volunteer involved in the county's fledgling hospice movement in the early 1970s when he met a young cancer patient who would later inspire his charity.
The girl told Burke that throughout her treatment she'd had no other children to play with, no activities or outings to take her mind off her illness.
"That touched him," said Linda Burke, his sister.
In 1974, he launched what would become Bob Burke's Kids with an inaugural Russian River fishing party for 18 kids.
Since then, hundreds of children and their families have gathered one day a week at the Burke's resort for summertime get-togethers. Throughout the rest of the year, Burke arranged weekly pizza parties or bowling nights. The charity has footed the bill through annual fundraisers, packed events that have drawn hundreds of supporters from across Sonoma County.
"He was an exquisite humanitarian," said close friend, Barbara Gonnella, who hosted a recent fundraiser for Burke at her family's inn, the Union Hotel in Occidental.
A lifelong bachelor who was affectionately known as "Bobby," Burke's round physique and thinning pate made him a natural for another role. For decades during the holiday season, he donned a Santa Claus costume and visited local senior homes, hospitals and the homes of children he came to know through his charity.
He often brought gifts, including beautifully decorated cakes or fishing equipment for those who he wanted to get out on the Russian River.
"Bob made our days happy ones," said Arden LeMar of Rohnert Park. When her 16-year-old daughter Adena was diagnosed with brain cancer in 1993, Burke visited her every day in the hospital. Years later, Burke stayed in touch with the family through cards he sent to Adena, now 33 and a mother living in Vacaville.
"He got joy when there were smiles on our babies' faces," Arden LeMar said.
Born in 1947 and raised in Forestville, Burke attended Analy High School and graduated from Santa Rosa High School in 1965.
He never strayed far from his home territory or the family business, which he and his sister Linda took over from their parents Mary Lou and Robert Burke.
Burke also volunteered with the Sonoma Children's Cancer Foundation, the Heart of America Bone Marrow Project and other groups.
He served as grand marshal in parades in Sebastopol, Guerneville and Forestville. And he was to be honored June 30 by the Santa Rosa-based Disability Services and Legal Center with the "Independent Living Legacy Award."
"He was absolutely the best guy," said his sister Linda. "Anyone who knows him or knows of him knows he had the biggest heart in the world."
A date for memorial services has not been set.
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