Robert G. “Bob” Burdewick, 1951 Mineola Class President

Robert G. “Bob” Burdewick of Dunedin, FL passed away on Feb. 17, 2013 at the Hospice House of Palm Harbor, after a long bout of esophageal cancer at the age of 79.

Born in Jamaica, NY on March 13, 1933, he grew up in Williston Park, NY and moved from North Merrick, NY to Dunedin in 1979. He was the Senior Class President of the January 1951 Mineola High School (currently the middle school) graduating class.

He then entered the U.S. Navy and was a Korean War Veteran having served on board the destroyer USS Ammen and also on the destroyer tender, USS Yosemite. He was a life member of the Tin Can Sailors Assoc. After his Honorable Discharge he joined the Nassau County Police Department and retired as a Sergeant in 1979 after 22½ years of service.

He was the past president of the Superior Officers Assoc., PBA Secretary and Newsletter Editor, Vice-Pres. Of the Police Steuben Assoc., member of the International Police Assoc. and the St. George Association.

In addition to his many awards and trophies including the SOA “Man of the Year” award and recognized in the Bi-Centennial edition of “Who’s Who in Law Enforcement” he remained active in numerous police, local and military organizations. He is also a life member of the NRA.

Locally, he was a realtor for 23 years and retired in 2003. He was a life member of the Dunedin Historical Society and past Editor of the Dunedin Days newsletter. He wrote for many years for the Dunedin Times as a reporter and columnist followed by employment with the Dunedin Observer and the Dunedin Highlander before retirement.

He was involved in local politics having run for the Dunedin City Commission three times in 1984, 1985 and 1991. He has served on many boards and committees that included: Sign Code Board of Appeals, Dunedin Sign Code Review Committee, Pinellas County Planning Council Sign Code Review Committee, Ordinance Review Committee, Charter Review Committee, Dunedin Stadium/Grant Field Advisory Board, Building Board of Adjustment & Appeals and the Mayor's Advisory Committee.

He was a past Vice-President of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce, recipient of their first “Governor of the year” award, past Director of the Dunedin Civic Association, a life member of the Historical Society and the Dunedin Friends of the Library, a member of the Toronto/Dunedin Blue Jays Booster Club, North Pinellas Republican Club and the Dunedin Kaffee Klatsch.

He was inducted into the Dunedin Hall of Fame in 2008, the Dunedin Chamber Baseball Hall of Fame in 2004 and a Historical Society History maker in 2004. He has also been awarded many plaques and certificates of appreciation from the City of Dunedin and local organizations.

He is survived by his son, James of Wesley Chapel; daughters, Barbara Jensen (John) of Dunedin, Susan Brooks (Ken) of Tarpon Springs and Patricia Muenks (Roy) of St. Charles, MO as well as 6 grandchildren.

A gathering will be held Friday, Feb. 22 from 9-10 a.m. with the Memorial Service at 10 a.m. at Curlew Hills Funeral Home in Palm Harbor. A continental breakfast will follow at the Cretan Cultural Center. In lieu of flowers donations to the Dunedin Historical Society or Suncoast Hospice would be appreciated.