Community mourns the loss of Bob Burns
By David J Spatz
Dave Coskey remembers the first time he took a nervous guest into a studio for their very first appearance on a radio program.
“There was a woman who was so scared, I didn’t think she was going to make it into the studio,” said Coskey, who at the time was president of Longport Media, the parent company of four radio stations, including NewsTalk 1400 WOND, South Jersey’s acknowledged leader in news and talk radio.
“I kept trying to assure her that she was going on (the air) with Bob Burns, and that she really had nothing to worry about,” Coskey adds.
Moments later, the guest was sitting across the table from Burns, the red “on-the-air” light was glowing and the previously nervous Nellie was chatting away with him like she’d known him her entire life.
She completely forgot – nor did it really seem to matter – that her words were being heard by thousands of people.
Burns, a seasoned radio host with a never-met-a-person-I-didn’t-like attitude, had instantly put the woman at ease with his disarming smile, his ready belly-full of laughter and his gift of gab and story-telling.
If ever there was a person who could embrace the word “raconteur” – French for “a great story-teller” – it was Bob Burns.
“That was what set Bob apart from other hosts,” Coskey said as he mentally relived the moment with tears in his eyes and a smile on his face.
“Bob could talk to anyone. He had that rare and unique ability to instantly set a person at ease, especially if they were about to go on the air. Bob was one-of-a-kind.”
And now he’s gone. Bob Burns, the host of “Bobs Burns In Your Afternoon” Mondays through Fridays on NewsTalk 1400 WOND, died suddenly of an apparent massive heart attack Dec. 10 while watching television with the love of his life, wife Patty Sheeler Burns.
In addition to his weekday talk show, Burns, nicknamed “the auto maven” for his knowledge of anything driven by a piston engine, also co-hosted one of the longest-running automotive shows in the state. “Your Neighborhood Garage” aired on WOND Saturday mornings for over 20 years along with Burns and co-host Joe Mazzie, a gregarious master mechanic.
But Burns, 70, was far more than just a friendly voice on the radio. He had one of the most eclectic careers of anyone you’ll ever meet.
As a kid, he learned basic automotive mechanics hanging out in his dad’s Pleasantville tire and auto repair business.
After his father died, Burns took over running the tire business, but not for too long.
He realized he could make a lot more money – and not have his hands and fingers permanently stained by oil and grease – by putting on a jacket and tie and selling insurance.
First working for a major agency, then going off on his own, Burns became well-versed at the different types of insurance – especially medical – and became an expert at virtually all forms of insurance. He was considered one of the leading insurance writers for his in-depth knowledge of the Medicare system, and as a result had more clients than he could handle.
Always interested in politics, Burns, a Democrat, entered the arena in 1991 and got himself elected to Egg Harbor Township Committee, a form of municipal government in which the mayor is chosen from among the five committee members.
Burns served as mayor for two years before eventually realizing he could probably be more useful to his community if he was a part from township committee instead of being part of it. But he secretly loved having a “Mayor Emeritus” license plate on one of his 10 vehicles.
Bob loved politics. He especially enjoyed election night, when he and right-leaning WOND morning host Don Williams would offer commentary on the local races and, depending on the year, would provide their thoughts on regional, state and national races, too.
But after his first brush with politics, Burns rejected any efforts to get his name back on a ballot.
“If I ever run for office again, light my face on fire and put it out with a fork,” was one of Burns’ most common phrases when asked if he’d consider returning to politics.
It’s difficult to encapsulate seven decades into just a few words, especially when those words apply to a larger-than-life figure like Bob Burns.
A former two-way football standout at Mainland Regional High School – lineman on offense, linebacker on defense – Burns was a big man, both physically and mentally, Between his size, his white beard and a heart of gold, Burns fit the Santa Claus look so well that he owned several Santa suits and would break them out to make the rounds in the weeks leading up to Christmas, never charging for his services.
It’s too soon after Burns’ death to know how WOND will fill the two-hour time period Monday to Friday from 1 to 3 p.m., where Burns once held forth.
But Longport Media general manager Paul Kelly knows one thing.
“You don’t ‘replace’ someone like Bob Burns,” Kelly, a veteran broadcaster, said. “You go out looking for someone who might come close, but you don’t replace him. Bob was one-of-a-kind.”
David Spatz is the Emmy Award-winning news director for NewsTalk 1400 WOND.
