Robert Glen Burke did not tie himself to the old church or even lay down in front of it to protest its demolition in 1999.

But he did so metaphorically before the Kirkland City Council, and in a way that was graceful in the true Burke fashion that he was known for.

“The council did not have much of an appetite for saving the building and was inclined to just let it be demolished,” recalled Santos Contreras, who served on the council when the Christian Science Church – built in 1922 – was spared from demolition. “Bob would not hear of it and prodded the council …”

After the council voted to save the building, the council “just looked at each other and shrugged our shoulders,” said Contreras, adding, “He wouldn’t let up. Without Bob that building would have been demolished – period.”

And now Kirkland has Burke to thank for that building, which is now Heritage Hall – a miniature White House of sorts that stately stands before Market Street, with a view of Lake Washington. The structure also houses Kirkland Heritage Society, where various local artifacts are preserved.

That was just one historical contribution that Burke left the city.

Burke passed away unexpectedly at his Kirkland home on May 20, just shy of his 79th birthday on June 28. The community will hold a celebration of life for him at Heritage Hall on July 6.

An Idaho native, Burke worked as an architect and urban planner for the Port of Seattle and various cities for many years. He was also president of the planning firm McConnell/Burke, Inc.

He brought his background in architecture and urban planning to the city of Kirkland when he served as chair on the city’s Planning Commission in the 80s.

“Robert really cared about preserving a sense of place in Kirkland,” said Barbara Loomis, who met Burke on the Planning Commission and was his significant other of 20 years.

She said Burke helped to “restore the historic fabric” in Kirkland to create that sense of place.

“Robert, because he was a planner, years ago was able to convince the city to get into place in the Comprehensive Plan and zoning code language that the city does want to preserve its community character and sense of place,” said Loomis.

So years later when Burke fought to save the building that is now Heritage Hall, he was able to point out that language to the council, she said.

“He was a visionary who realized part of our past is also a part of our future,” said Michaele Muse, who was the mayor of Kirkland during the Heritage Hall acquisition and worked with Burke and the Kirkland Heritage Society to secure the building.

She now lives in Portland, Ore. and plans to attend Burke’s celebration of life on July 6 with her husband.

“I know one of my favorite things to do is to go back to Kirkland and see that building sitting there in the park,” added Muse.

Dave Ramsey, former city manager, recalled working with Burke when the city acquired the former church building and moved it from First Street by City Hall to Heritage Park.

“I think this project illustrated Bob’s very effective working style,” said Ramsey. “He was a passionate advocate for preserving Kirkland’s history and its heritage … yet he was a very effective working partner. That’s a tricky combination to achieve and Bob did it with passion, but also with grace and humor.”

He said Burke often spoke up during council meetings to address land-use and Comprehensive Plan issues.

“Sometimes he was applauding the city, sometimes he was encouraging us to do better and sometimes he even disagreed with what we were doing,” said Ramsey. “But he was effective that he could do all of the above and come out of it with everyone’s respect.”

Loomis said before Heritage Hall came along, Burke stored some of Kirkland Heritage Society’s collection at his home, including many photographs of historic Kirkland. The organization also did not have a centralized meeting place.

“We were meeting at the Kirkland Library, the Kirkland Congregational Church – wherever we possibly could,” she recalled. “Moving in to Heritage Hall gave us the opportunity to move everything together in one place.”

Burke also helped raise $250,000 for the restoration of Heritage Hall, and even designed a glass case that currently stores some of the organization’s collection.

Other historical contributions that Burke made to the city include convincing the city in 1994 to put into its Comprehensive Plan a policy to celebrate the city’s centennial in 2005; organizing the city’s Peter Kirk Family Reunion event and he was the “primary watchdog” in the effort to restore the historic Anderson Ferry clock in downtown Kirkland that was re-dedicated in January, said Sue Contreras.

Loomis said Burke was so passionate about historical preservation that he even moved his 1910 craftsman bungalow years ago from downtown Kirkland to the Norkirk neighborhood, where he renovated the home.

“Robert was the love of my life – he was my soulmate,” said Loomis, who laughed when she explained why the two didn’t live together. “I have a historic house too, 1889. I love my house; Robert loved his. I didn’t want to move into his; he didn’t want to move into mine.”

She said before Burke passed away, the two were looking forward to going on a road trip to see Burke’s granddaughter get married in California. Road trips were the couple’s favorite pastime, as they would look for historic markers, street signs, architectural details and other examples “to bring back different ideas to the city of Kirkland,” she said.

Loomis said Burke – her best friend who was a fabulous swing dancer – taught her many things, including the power of carbon copying people in an email and how to effectively negotiate with people.

“He would figure out what it was that he wanted, and he’d say ‘I’ll entertain a motion for’ and he’d lay out the whole thing,” Loomis recalled. “And then somebody would say ‘so moved,’ and it usually got passed.”

A celebration of Burke’s life will be held at 5 p.m. Saturday, July 6 at Heritage Hall – his most significant legacy to the city, said Loita Hawkinson, president of the Kirkland Heritage Society.

“Many of Bob’s contributions to Kirkland will be forgotten as the decades pass,” wrote Hawkinson on the organization’s website that includes a photo memorial dedicated to Burke. “But he will always be remembered for his impact on saving the historic building that became Heritage Hall. Without his voice, the building would not have been saved. It is a proud legacy to our city.”

Remembrances

Donations can be made in his memory to the Kirkland Heritage Society to help fund the landmark nomination process of historic strutters in the city of Kirkland.