Ex-official in Calais, Burke dies

CALAIS – Byron Burke, the former city manager and former Washington County commissioner, died Saturday after having been diagnosed with cancer last month.

Burke, 58, died at Calais Regional Hospital.

He served as a commissioner 1996 to 2000. His wife followed him in that position with her own four-year term, from 2000 to 2004.

“He wanted to lower taxes,” Winola Burke, his wife of 37 years, said Sunday afternoon. “That was his big thing, helping the economy.”

Burke worked for the city of Calais for seven years, first as its comptroller beginning in 1987, then as its manager between 1991 and 1994.

He had a special interest in rural health care. He was a member of both the board of trustees and the board of directors of Calais Regional Hospital over five years.

After leaving the Calais manager’s position, he became the first administrator for the new St. Croix Regional Family Health Center in Princeton. He worked there nearly five years until 1999.

He moved into municipal work after having served 22 years in the U.S. Army, including 10 years living in both Germany and Korea. He retired as a sergeant major who specialized in finance and accounting.

Both he and Winola grew up in Pembroke. He graduated from Pembroke High School in 1964, three years ahead of her.

They had two children, Byron Jr. of Calais and Douglas, who now is stationed in the Netherlands for the U.S. Air Force.

Six years ago he and Byron Jr. started the B & B Delivery, a business that had drivers working between Calais, Machias, Ellsworth and Bangor.

Services will be 2 p.m. Thursday, April 21, at the Scott-Wilson Funeral Home in Calais. Visiting hours will be at 1 p.m. Burial at the Calais Cemetery will follow the service.

The family requests that donations in lieu of flowers go to the American Cancer Society.