Marty Burns was a friend of mine. He was a real “character”, and anyone that knew him would agree that he was really out there. But to know him well was to love him, and to sometimes hate him. He was super intelligent. If he was interested in something, he absorbed details like a sponge. He loved reading books and could read people in an instant. He could make me laugh like hell with his off-color humor, when I needed it most, and he actually made me cry a couple times with his naked honesty. And while some people are as predictable as gravity, in Marty’s case, you never knew what he would say next. He hated anything phony and loved real people and the stories they could tell. I think that is part of what made Marty who he was. His Irish temper would show through one minute with an obscenity laced tirade, and yet a few seconds later he would extend his hand in friendship and tell you how great you were. He had a real touch of the Blarney, that’s for sure!
Just a few of the things I remember about some of Marty’s likes and dislikes back then;
Favorite Sports:
- Baseball and the NY Yankees, Billy Martin and anything in Pin Stripes; also Little League Baseball, he loved coaching, and mentoring his son Joe, who became an outstanding player;
- Boxing and Muhammad Ali and the Thrilla’ in Manilla; we use to spar occasionally, and he actually knocked me out once, an accident I’m sure, yeah right.
- WWF Wrestling, (He so wanted it to be real) and he emulated Bruno Sammartino, so much so, that he perfected the “Sleeper” hold, much to the discomfort of several underclassmen;
- Amateur Golf at Winged Pheasant and the VA (which we never really mastered, but we kept on trying!)
Favorite Films: From the 70s - “The Godfather” Marty’s greatest movie ever made; “The Exorcist” he didn’t sleep for weeks afterwards; and “Jaws” (the original) “Ya got city hands Mr. Hooper, been countin’ money all your life”; and later on from the 80s “Field of Dreams” It was baseball after all…”build it and they will come”
Favorite 70s TV Shows: Dragnet with Joe Friday (“Just the facts, ma’am"); M.A.S.H (his wife Rita was a nurse);
Favorite Adult Beverages:
Shlitz, Miller High Life, and Genny Cream Ale when we were cruisin’ around town, and Vodka mixed with anything when he was home. I actually think I saw him pour it on Corn Flakes once.
Pet Peeves:
- He hated to waste time and was very impatient, (assembly manuals and operating instructions were for wimps); with real men it just came natural, so he thought.
- He hated shorts and would never wear them. Even on 90+ degree days you would see Marty working outside in Jeans and a long-sleeve shirt. Not only did he avoid skin cancer, he also saved money on clothes.
- He hated disingenuous people, they drove him crazy and he had no time for them. He lived to make them look foolish.
Funniest moment I remember with Marty:
It had to be the time we were doing a radio broadcast of a high-school football game, and Marty was the color announcer embellishing my play-by-play with his usual wit. It was going along smoothly on a sunny Saturday afternoon. Marty was sipping Apricot Brandy between commentaries, when he accidently swallowed a bee that was also enjoying the sweet nectar in the bottle. This was while we were “live” on the air. I had everything I could do to keep the obscenities from being heard but I am sure some of it got out. I can still see the contortions his red freckled face made, while trying to massage that bee out of his throat. Fortunately he wasn’t allergic and recovered within a few minutes to finish the broadcast. A real “trouper”… it was the last time he tasted Apricot Brandy that I know of, and I am still laughing now as I think about it, sorry Marty!
Some of Marty’s vocations through the years included:
Restaurant Manager and Cook
Uncle John’s Pancake House; (Midnight breakfast runs were a blast after the Rib Pit) I still remember the night someone died right in one of the booths, and Marty swore it wasn’t from his cooking.
The Hub House Restaurant; Marty was in his early 20s and was the District Manager based in Canandaigua (They really put him in charge of a multi-store restaurant chain?) Big mistake, as he actually put me on the payroll to be his “assistant”, even though at the time I couldn’t spell Restuarant.
and of course…
Marty’s Restaurant on Main Street in Canandaigua, featuring the famous $0.99 Breakfast Special (how did he do that and still make money?) It’s where Marty held court daily from 6am to 2pm for many years, with some of Canandaigua’s most interesting citizens... He fed those that could afford it, and several of those that couldn’t… a true Democrat.
Later in life he also loved;
Teaching
After returning to school to get his advanced degree he loved teaching at Red Jacket HS. Needless to say, I’m sure his students were exposed to some revolutionary teaching methods, and a lot of good anecdotes.
Politics
He served as a City of Canandaigua representative on the Ontario County Board of Supervisors, where his gift of gab, strong will, and knowledge of the area served both he and the city well, for a decade. It also made for very colorful Board meetings, I’m told. He also made an unsuccessful bid to be Ontario County Treasurer, but obviously the thought of turning over the management of millions of dollars to Marty, made some voters nervous, I don’t know why, he would have done a great job looking out for the taxpayers.
Marty also dabbled with Farming and some other business ventures that interested him during his life, but his real passion was telling stories, being as irreverent as possible throughout his life, accepting challenges and proving so-called experts wrong. He did it very well.
In retrospect, it was a real pleasure to know Marty Burns, along with his wife Rita, and kids Joey, Julie and Caitlin, all of whom I know Marty worshipped till the day he died. Thinking back, I’m sure I could tell a hundred stories about adventures the two of us shared, but I had better keep those private, as the statute of limitations may not be up yet. We miss you Marty, but thanks for the memories and may you rest in peace!
Scott, Now that is a true friendship! I never knew Marty personally ~ but you've given such a heartfelt insight to your close friendship with him. Thank you. And somewhere, Marty is pleased to have known you as a friend too.
Wow Smitty ! ... that was a great read, and I do remember some of these escapades. God, what a compliation Smitty, it's amazing how certain people and friends may pass-on but they really never leave our side. Paul ---see you all in August ! (you have that writer's knack, btw)
Scott Smith
Remembering Marty Burns:
Marty Burns was a friend of mine. He was a real “character”, and anyone that knew him would agree that he was really out there. But to know him well was to love him, and to sometimes hate him. He was super intelligent. If he was interested in something, he absorbed details like a sponge. He loved reading books and could read people in an instant. He could make me laugh like hell with his off-color humor, when I needed it most, and he actually made me cry a couple times with his naked honesty. And while some people are as predictable as gravity, in Marty’s case, you never knew what he would say next. He hated anything phony and loved real people and the stories they could tell. I think that is part of what made Marty who he was. His Irish temper would show through one minute with an obscenity laced tirade, and yet a few seconds later he would extend his hand in friendship and tell you how great you were. He had a real touch of the Blarney, that’s for sure!
Just a few of the things I remember about some of Marty’s likes and dislikes back then;
Favorite Sports:
- Baseball and the NY Yankees, Billy Martin and anything in Pin Stripes; also Little League Baseball, he loved coaching, and mentoring his son Joe, who became an outstanding player;
- Boxing and Muhammad Ali and the Thrilla’ in Manilla; we use to spar occasionally, and he actually knocked me out once, an accident I’m sure, yeah right.
- WWF Wrestling, (He so wanted it to be real) and he emulated Bruno Sammartino, so much so, that he perfected the “Sleeper” hold, much to the discomfort of several underclassmen;
- Amateur Golf at Winged Pheasant and the VA (which we never really mastered, but we kept on trying!)
Favorite Films:
From the 70s - “The Godfather” Marty’s greatest movie ever made; “The Exorcist” he didn’t sleep for weeks afterwards; and “Jaws” (the original) “Ya got city hands Mr. Hooper, been countin’ money all your life”; and later on from the 80s “Field of Dreams” It was baseball after all…”build it and they will come”
Favorite 70s TV Shows:
Dragnet with Joe Friday (“Just the facts, ma’am"); M.A.S.H (his wife Rita was a nurse);
Favorite Adult Beverages:
Shlitz, Miller High Life, and Genny Cream Ale when we were cruisin’ around town, and Vodka mixed with anything when he was home. I actually think I saw him pour it on Corn Flakes once.
Pet Peeves:
- He hated to waste time and was very impatient, (assembly manuals and operating instructions were for wimps); with real men it just came natural, so he thought.
- He hated shorts and would never wear them. Even on 90+ degree days you would see Marty working outside in Jeans and a long-sleeve shirt. Not only did he avoid skin cancer, he also saved money on clothes.
- He hated disingenuous people, they drove him crazy and he had no time for them. He lived to make them look foolish.
Funniest moment I remember with Marty:
It had to be the time we were doing a radio broadcast of a high-school football game, and Marty was the color announcer embellishing my play-by-play with his usual wit. It was going along smoothly on a sunny Saturday afternoon. Marty was sipping Apricot Brandy between commentaries, when he accidently swallowed a bee that was also enjoying the sweet nectar in the bottle. This was while we were “live” on the air. I had everything I could do to keep the obscenities from being heard but I am sure some of it got out. I can still see the contortions his red freckled face made, while trying to massage that bee out of his throat. Fortunately he wasn’t allergic and recovered within a few minutes to finish the broadcast. A real “trouper”… it was the last time he tasted Apricot Brandy that I know of, and I am still laughing now as I think about it, sorry Marty!
Some of Marty’s vocations through the years included:
Restaurant Manager and Cook
Uncle John’s Pancake House; (Midnight breakfast runs were a blast after the Rib Pit) I still remember the night someone died right in one of the booths, and Marty swore it wasn’t from his cooking.
The Hub House Restaurant; Marty was in his early 20s and was the District Manager based in Canandaigua (They really put him in charge of a multi-store restaurant chain?) Big mistake, as he actually put me on the payroll to be his “assistant”, even though at the time I couldn’t spell Restuarant.
and of course…
Marty’s Restaurant on Main Street in Canandaigua, featuring the famous $0.99 Breakfast Special (how did he do that and still make money?) It’s where Marty held court daily from 6am to 2pm for many years, with some of Canandaigua’s most interesting citizens... He fed those that could afford it, and several of those that couldn’t… a true Democrat.
Later in life he also loved;
Teaching
After returning to school to get his advanced degree he loved teaching at Red Jacket HS. Needless to say, I’m sure his students were exposed to some revolutionary teaching methods, and a lot of good anecdotes.
Politics
He served as a City of Canandaigua representative on the Ontario County Board of Supervisors, where his gift of gab, strong will, and knowledge of the area served both he and the city well, for a decade. It also made for very colorful Board meetings, I’m told. He also made an unsuccessful bid to be Ontario County Treasurer, but obviously the thought of turning over the management of millions of dollars to Marty, made some voters nervous, I don’t know why, he would have done a great job looking out for the taxpayers.
Marty also dabbled with Farming and some other business ventures that interested him during his life, but his real passion was telling stories, being as irreverent as possible throughout his life, accepting challenges and proving so-called experts wrong. He did it very well.
In retrospect, it was a real pleasure to know Marty Burns, along with his wife Rita, and kids Joey, Julie and Caitlin, all of whom I know Marty worshipped till the day he died. Thinking back, I’m sure I could tell a hundred stories about adventures the two of us shared, but I had better keep those private, as the statute of limitations may not be up yet. We miss you Marty, but thanks for the memories and may you rest in peace!
Respectfully,
Smitty
Patty Ryan (Steele)
Scott, Now that is a true friendship! I never knew Marty personally ~ but you've given such a heartfelt insight to your close friendship with him. Thank you. And somewhere, Marty is pleased to have known you as a friend too.
Patty
Paul Marinello
Wow Smitty ! ... that was a great read, and I do remember some of these escapades. God, what a compliation Smitty, it's amazing how certain people and friends may pass-on but they really never leave our side. Paul ---see you all in August ! (you have that writer's knack, btw)
Judy Wilcox (Richmond)
A true tribute from a good friend....kudos Smitty.