Who's on Third?
by Cate Murway
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is relatively close to the batter and most right-handed hitters tend to hit the ball extremely hard in this direction. That position requires a strong arm to make long throws to first base, needs good hand-eye coordination and quick reactions in order to catch hard line drives. Welcome to the "hot corner".
“BHS 2007 most improved” baseball athlete #13, Jacob Peter [Jake] Burg, BHS ’09, was named after both
his grandfathers.
Head BHS baseball coach Anthony Joseph [Tony] Mangiaracina, BHS ‘69/ Wake Forest U. who last summer competed in the fourth annual BSAA Softball Exhibition as 1st base all-star co-captain, was a football offensive lineman who played on the ACC [Atlantic Coast Conference] WFU winning team. Jake’s coach shared, “Jake was a varsity athlete by his sophomore year with a 3rd base starting position and for this, he earned B.A.L Honorable Mention recognition. He was a tremondous athletic surprise; a great asset to the district qualified playoff team!”
Jakes’s most supportive parents, lifetime Borough residents, are Past exalted Elks ruler, John Jacob Burg, BHS ‘68/BCCC, a linebacker in football and the catcher in baseball, who won the highest batting average title in the LBC baseball league in 1968; and basketball, softball, cheerleading and field hockey athlete, Rosalind Jean [Roz] Roberts, BHS ‘70/BCCC ’72, who still carries the newspaper article re: her husband’s Batting Title in her purse. [PS. no H.S. indoor sports for Mr. Burg, he watched the cheerleaders in the winter!] Jake’s sister is Heather Kimberly [Burg] Charlton, BHS ’89 [husband, Dan] and his nieces are Bensalem students Jessica [16] and Melissa [5]. His Uncle Peter Roberts III resides in the Borough.
His dad is a manager at the Riverside, N.J. Simon & Schuster, Inc. location, shipping books to Barnes & Noble, Inc. and the independent, locally owned specialty bookshops such as Daltons Books. His mom performs a variety of confidential, legal, and administrative duties as a Judicial Secretary at the Office of Attorney Ethics, the investigative and prosecutorial arm of the Supreme Court of N.J. that investigates complaints against, supervises and disciplines N.J. attorneys.
Jake’s extended family includes Pine Street resident grandparents, originally from a Florence N.J. farming family, Jack “Jake” and lifetime Borough resident Catherine [Quici] Burg. His late grandparents were St. Ann School grad Margaret [Giagnacova] and Langhorne High [now Neshaminy H.S.]/Tri City Barber School in Philadelphia grad; Army Veteran of World War II and recipient of the Purple Heart Medal, Peter Roberts, Jr. [a.k.a. "Pete the Barber"]. His maternal grandfather was the proprietor of the Penndel family owned barbershop “Robert's” and served as a President and trustee for the Sons of Italy Bristol Lodge and was a St. Ann Church usher.
Jake has continuously achieved a comprehensive education through the Borough schools, where the accent is on diversity, ensuring that the schools meet the very different needs of young people, demonstrating excellent performance and achievement.
His Snyder-Girotti Elementary School teacher, Mrs. Donna Ann [Petrizzi] LaRosa, President of her Class BHS ’76/Lycoming College ‘80/Holy Family ElementaryEd Certificate ‘97/Saint Joseph University MS in Instructional Technology ’02, guided gifted and enrichment program Jacob and his classmates [computer club is open to 5th & 6th graders] to collaborate electronically in the clay animated film venture, portmanteau term "Claymation". They showcased their technology product in the PA Educational Technology Expo & Conference (PETE&C) in Hershey, PA. Mrs. LaRosa praised Jake, “He is a very hard worker, thorough and conscientious.”
Recreational league sports, including baseball [preferences- 3rd base, catcher, and 1st base, in that order!] basketball forward, soccer and football lineman satiated his elementary school athletic appetite. His BHS career concentrates on his center position in football, frosh and soph year basketball, and his top choice, baseball! His extended academic aspirations include his interest in an East coast big city school, “I want to go somewhere where it’s crowded and something is always going on and there’s public transportation” and he expressed that he would like to continue his baseball career.
Jake is a Distinguished Honor Student and a newly inducted [2.21.08] member of the National Honor Society. He is a high achiever and highly motivated and his interests are as diverse as his mind is bright. His achievement in scholarship, leadership, service, and character are recognized and rewarded. Four main purposes guide chapters of the NHS: "To create enthusiasm for scholarship, to stimulate a desire to render service, to promote leadership, and to develop character in the students of secondary schools."
As a member of the Student forum, media committee, he and eleventh and twelfth grade student representatives from participating public and nonpublic high schools meet monthly at the Bucks County Intermediate Unit #22 or district high schools to discuss student suggested topics. The student committees are assigned issues to explore and report their recommendations to the B.C.I.U. Board of Directors annually. This promotes independent thinking and high student self-expectations through interactive learning. They recently filmed a public service announcement on “teen suicide”.
As a Student Ambassador, part of a cooperative team, he helps functions run smoothly in the H.S.; his motivation is centered on friendships, partnerships, and companionship. Making a contribution to the team effort is important to him and he is willing to work hard to achieve a harmonious environment.
Jake is intensely loyal and home-loving and he deeply feels that his family and another special family have all had a powerful role in his life, teaching him that values and virtue are a part of the social fabric and that the fabric is not unraveling! People often retreat behind closed and double locked doors and try to ignore their neighbors but he firmly attests that he is a part of a network of friends and family, a community and a neighborhood that hasn’t gone the way of the gaslight, the horse, and the buggy.
“The Bunda family to me, is a second family and without their influence I feel I would only be half the human being I am today.”
McKinley Street residents, Raymond William, Morrisville ‘73 and L.P.N. Mary Catherine [Hoffman] Bunda, BHS ‘73/ BCTHS, Circulation Clerk at the Margaret R. Grundy Library and the docent [Latin word docēre, "to teach"], volunteer guide who staffs the Margaret R. Grundy Museum, “babysat” him from the time he was about 6 months old, until he was about 13 and their sons are like older brothers to him, and he looked up to them his entire life. His accrued “brothers” are Michael Raymond, BHS '02, a math Teacher in the Neshaminy school District; Tullytown Police officer Andrew Francis, CEC '04/CHI Criminal Justice/ Temple police academy in Ambler; Christopher William, BHS '06/ currently attending Penn College of Technology in Williamsport, and grappler [1st seed at District 1 Class AA Wrestling Tournament] Ryan Joseph [16-7], BHS '08/ Cabrini College Merit Scholarship recipient. Mary Catherine emotionally shared, “Jake is such a wonderful boy; he was never disrespectful or unkind in his life. We feel that he is another son and our home is always open to him. We are fortunate to have the entire family in our lives”.
Jake’s family are members of the First United Methodist Church of Bristol where his mom taught Sunday School for almost 15 years. He volunteers at the Vacation Bible School and also with cleaning and vacuuming and to assist trustee Edgar Vandergrift with custodian duties such as the carpet shampooing.
He also participates in the Angel Food ministries, a non-profit, non-denominational nationwide organization program that monthly provides affordable groceries to those in need. Intuitive and caring Jake assembles the boxes with a quantity of food that can fit into a medium-sized box and he carries them out to the recipients’ cars.
Jake also volunteers with the Elks Holiday Food Baskets. Santa could learn a thing or two about organizing his North Pole toy distribution center as the dinner and other food items are so professionally boxed up. His sympathetic nature equips him for work in charities. No man, woman, or family is an island.
Elks’ member, James Samuel [Sam] LaRosa, BHS & BCTHS‘73/ Lincoln Tech ’74
appreciates Jake’s help. “He collects food from his Church, very reliable; when you need a hand with something, he’s right there!”
Past-exalted Elks ruler Arthur Frederick [Art] Seagraves, BHS ‘64/Navy veteran agrees,
“I’ve known him his whole life; he’s a pleasure to be around, just a great kid!”
Jake is a student of exceptional merit, one of the best and brightest high school students BHS has to offer. His classes include BCCC courses, Philosophy last term and currently Intro to Business but his favorite subject is math and he is contemplating a “pre-med” major since his dad was recently diagnosed with cancer. He favors Hip-hop and Rap and truly likes swing music but he adamantly confirms, “I don’t dance.”
A favorite food, among many, is the Veal Parmesan that his dad makes and his mom’s meatballs that “taste like grandmom’s” [no onions!].
Home cooked Puerto Rican rice and beans are enjoyed in the palm-tree-themed North Philly eatery, Freddy & Tony's Restaurant, where the jukebox plays Latin hits.
“No hay lugar como el hogar” There is no place like the home!
Local favored spots include Apollo’s Pizza [he worked there for a bit] and Charlie Karps Pub, [always for their mozzarella sticks] and he attends all the festivals held at the Bristol Lions Park and Wharf, including Celtic Day, African-American Day, Italian Day, and Puerto Rican Day.
The friendly, good natured, kind and compassionate Jake loves Bristol and wouldn’t have wanted to grow up anywhere else. When he makes up his mind to have a family, he wants to settle down in Bristol. His idea of success is “helping people and being happy while he is doing it.” P.S. Happy 17th Birthday, Jake!
He wanted his girlfriend mentioned, the amazing softball catcher Kara Elizabeth Bartle, BHS ’08, as she was the one who nominated him for this article and his parents expressed that they are “two of a kind”! One of her current medical career choices includes nursing!
The Borough continues to be a good neighborhood with each deciding to be a good neighbor. United we stand, divided we fall -- cooperation is as important as competition.
To recommend a Bristol borough youth to be spotlighted: vjmrun@yahoo.com
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John J. Burg
Bucks County Courier Times
John J. Burg of Bristol Borough passed away on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2008, at St. Mary Medical Center with his loving family and friends at his side. He was 58. Born in Philadelphia, he was a lifelong Bristol resident. Mr. Burg was employed as a warehouse manager at Simon & Schuster in Bristol and later in Riverside, N.J. The love and support he received from his co-workers brought him much joy and comfort. He was a longtime member and past exalted ruler of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, Lodge 970, Bristol. It was his active involvement that helped revitalize the lodge and its charitable works. He is survived by the woman whose hand he held through life, his loving wife, Rosalind; his daughter, whom he loved more than she'll ever know, Heather Charlton and her husband, Dan, of Bensalem; and his pride and joy, his son, Jake Burg, who resides at home. He is also survived by his parents, Jack and Catherine (Quici) Burg; his two beautiful granddaughters, Jessica and Melissa; a cousin, friend and brother, James R. Gallione and his wife, Terry, of Kitnersville, Pa.; a brother, Patrick Burg and his wife, Kathy, of Burlington, N.J.; and a brother-in-law, Peter Roberts and his wife, Roberta, of Bristol.Relatives and friends are invited to attend his funeral service 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008, at the Wade Funeral Home, 1002 Radcliffe St., Bristol Boro. Interment will be held privately. Viewing hours will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday evening and 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Stand Up To Cancer, File 1224, 1801 West Olympic Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91198-1224 or by calling 888-90-STAND (888-907-8263). Wade Funeral Home,Bristolwww.wadefh.com
November 13, 2008 12:00 AM
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Jacob Peter Burg
Bucks County Courier Times
Jacob Peter "Jack" Burg of Bristol passed away Saturday, July 31, 2010, at Majestic Oaks, Warminster.
He was 86.
Born in Roebling, N.J., Aug. 9, 1923, he moved to Bristol in 1949.
Mr. Burg was a U.S. Army veteran, serving in World War II.
He was a member of the Bristol Elks Lodge, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the American Legion.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Catherine (Quici) Burg; his children, Patrick Burg and Kathy Burg; five grandchildren, Jake Burg, Heather Charlton and her husband, Dan, Linda and Larry Stilts and Elaine Burg; one nephew and niece, James and Terri Galione; and five great-grandchildren. Jack also is survived by two brothers, Martin Burg and his wife, Eloise, and Frank Burg; and one daughter-in-law, Rosalind Roberts. He was preceded in death by his son, John Burg; two sisters, Anna Stewart and Catherine Mitchell; and five brothers, Charles, John, Tony, Joseph, and George Burg.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend his funeral service at 8 p.m., Thursday at Wade Funeral Home, 1002 Radcliffe St., Bristol, where friends may call from 6 p.m. until the time of service. Interment will be held at Washington Crossing National Cemetery, at a later date. Wade Funeral Home, Bristol
www.wadefh.com
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Catherine (Quici) Burg passed away Thursday, March 24, 2011, at Majestic Oaks Nursing Center, Warminster. She was 91.
Born in Bristol Borough, she was a lifelong resident.
Mrs. Burg was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Jake Burg; her son, John Burg; and sister, Rose Galione.
She is survived by her grandchildren, Heather Charlton and Jack Burg; great-grandchildren, Jessica and Melissa; one nephew, James Galione and his wife, Terri; and her daughter-in-law, Rosalind Roberts; along with many other nieces and nephews.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend her funeral service at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 30, at the Wade Funeral Home, 1002 Radcliffe Street, Bristol Borough, where friends may call from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday. Interment will be held privately. Wade Funeral Home, Bristol Borough
