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Ryan's grandpa passed away last week unexpectedly from a heart attack. I was completely devestated when I heard the news, I will always regret that we didn't get to see him one more time. Christmas was the last time we spent together and I will treasure the photos we took of Tony and Cooper and am so glad he was able to meet our little Cooper Anthony. I do take comfort knowing that we spoke with Carole the night before he passed during one of our weekly catch up phone calls and I know she relayed that we love him and were thinking of him.
Ryan and I were sitting in bed the other night, remembering moments of his life, how we both think of his great laugh, a perfect little chuckle, usually followed with a slight headshake and a "sheesh." I few memories that stick out in my mind for some reason; golfing at the cabin together, nightly happy hour, sour dough pancakes and flavored coffee, the way he teased Carole about how she slapped condiments on bread, he was always meticulous about everything including his sandwiches, how he would light up when he talked about flying, how much he loved ice cream, and ketchup on his eggs, how he always impressed me with how hard of worker he was even when he wasn't feeling well...
I remember the first time I met Tony, I was heading to the cabin I now have so many fond memories of for the first time. Ryan told him to look for a cute blonde girl in a big red truck. I knocked on the door and he opened it and said "you must be the big red girl in a cute blonde truck." That was my first impression of Tony. First impressions usually are correct and his case was no different. He was a kind, loving, caring man with a great sense of humor and a heart of gold.
Here is his obituary:
Anthony Burdo of Arlington WA passed away peacefully on March 7, 2011. Tony was originally from Elmi- ra, MI and moved to Bellevue in 1955. He began a career with the Boeing Company, where he retired in 1992. He retired in Engineering Management, managing USAF projects and planes. His love of aviation began as a young boy, learning to fly in the Boy Scouts where he earned the rank of Eagle Scout, Order of the Arrow. He also built his own airplane, a Mustang II, N45AB, and was a member of the EAA Chapter 26. His first flight award from the EAA was May 1979. Tony attended Clare High School in Clare, MI, was an athlete and member of the National Honor Society. He also was cast as 'Prince Charming' in the play 'Snow White,' a role that described his very nature. After his service in the US Army Air Corp, he graduated from Michigan State University with a BS in Engineering and a member of the Alpha Pi Omega Engineering Fraternity. He is survived by Carole Lee Burdo (Graham) formerly of Clare, MI whom he married in 1955. Tony will be remembered as a good father to his children Michael Burdo and his wife Melinda (Dickinson) of Kirkland, son Bryan Burdo of Seattle, daughter Christina Burdo of Seattle and Carla Burdo-Halsne of Mill Creek. He also had grandchildren whom he doted on, Ryan Burdo and Crystal (Watts) of Richland, Erin Halsne and Eva Halsne of Mill Creek. He was a great-grandfather to Riley Burdo and Cooper Burdo of Richland. Tony always practiced the tenet 'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you' from the Lord's Prayer. An avid golfer and woodworker, Tony built a vacation home for his family at Lost River Airport in Mazama in the Methow Valley, his favorite place. A private memorial service will be held there, Memorial Day weekend, where family and friends will gather to celebrate his life.
