Joseph Burdige

Joseph Burdige passed away on March 14, 2022, from chronic medical conditions, including heart disease. He was 94 years old. Born on December 20, 1927, to Bertha and Louis Burdige, he was predeceased by Estelle Burdige, his beloved wife of 54 years. He is survived by his children and their spouses: David Burdige and Juli Homestead, Joanne and John Concato, Lisa Burdige and John Hazard, and his adored grandchildren–Louis and Michael Concato, Ben and Emily Burdige, and Blaise and Zane Albis-Burdige. He is also survived by his partner of 14 years, Elaine (Terri) Finkel.

A WW II-era veteran, he served as a medical technician in Guam. When he returned, he studied at City College on the GI Bill. Later he earned his Masters in Chemistry from the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn.

As a young man, he worked on the railroad and was a union leader. He became an active member of the labor movement and began his life-long struggle for civil rights and social justice.

In his early career, he worked as an industrial chemist and was granted several patents for his research. In the 1970s, he became a New York City public school teacher, where he touched the lives of hundreds of students, working first at Eli Whitney Vocational High School in Brooklyn and later at his alma mater DeWitt Clinton High School in the Bronx.

When he and his family moved to Rockland County in 1961, he brought his passion for social change with him. He was active in the Rockland Coalition for Democracy and Freedom, on the board of the Friends of the Finkelstein Memorial Library and served several terms on the Rockland County Planning Board.

Joe lived an active and wonderful life. He was a world traveler, an avid tennis player, an outdoorsman, and a fisherman. A lover of theater and music, he played the guitar. He was a master carpenter building everything from sailing canoes to swing sets. A quintessential handyman, he could fix anything from scratches on tables to friends’ computers to motors and cars with equal ease. His quiet humor, originality, wisdom, kindness, and love will be deeply missed.

A memorial service will be held in his honor in the Spring. Please call Hellman Memorial Chapels for any Shiva observances.

Donations in his name can be made to The People for the American Way, The Union for Concerned Scientists, The Environmental Defense Fund, or Global Giving – Ukraine Relief