Mark W. McBurnie Sr. died on July 8, the day after he turned 73, at his home in Jamesport, surrounded by friends and family.
Born in Riverhead, he worked on his family farm until he married and moved to the Speonk area. He then worked on his father-in-law’s duck farm until 1976, when he was hired as a laborer for the Southampton Town Highway Department, working his way up to foreman of the Westhampton-Eastport Manor district area. As a highway foreman, he achieved much respect and admiration from the community for maintaining his district in the utmost condition, survivors said. After 30 years with the Town of Southampton, he retired at the end of the 2006.
Mr. McBurnie was also a longtime member of the Eastport Fire Department. He enjoyed clamming, watching NASCAR races and camping at the flywheelers tractor events in Florida. His neighbors on Melissa Lane could always count on him to plow the road clear with his red Jeep after every snowfall.
He is survived by his three children, Mark McBurnie Jr. and wife Elizabeth, Marla Lennon and Monica Galasso; seven grandchildren, Mark III, Britney, Jeffrey, Kim, Nicole, Andrew and Shania; one great-granddaughter, Adrianna; and his companion of 18 years, Marie Deuel.
Visitation is at Tuthill-Mangano Funeral Home in Riverhead on Thursday, July 14, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.
Memorial donations may be made to the Eastport Fire Department, Box 158 Eastport, NY 11941-0158; or East End Hospice, Box 1048, Westhampton Beach, NY 11978.