Obituary of Burton Niro

Burton A. Niro, 92, of Melbourne, passed away peacefully on Friday, October 23, 2015 at his home. He was born on April 22, 1923, in Milford, MA. He was preceded in death by his adored wife, Holly. Burt was a veteran of the United States Army, serving in the Western Pacific Theater during World War II. In 1954, he moved to Melbourne where he joined throngs of other enthusiastic participants in the building up of America’s space program. He retired from Pan Am World Services in 1986 after 31 years of distinguished service at the Eastern Test Range. Burt is survived by his son Tom of Melbourne; sister Gloria of Middleboro, MA; nieces Charlene of Merritt Island, Sharon, Sally, Cheryl and Shelly of Middleboro, MA, and Donna of Ocala; and nephews Charles of Palm Bay and Steve of TN. Heartfelt thanks to the Hospice of Health First support team for the loving care they showed Dad during his final months at home. While working with Pan Am and especially during retirement, Dad and Mom took full advantage of the opportunities for travel that employment with the company afforded them. Over the years, they moved about extensively through Mexico, Central and South America. Early on, recognizing that communication opened the way to friendships, they rented a bungalow in one of the districts in Mexico City and spent the next three months attending an intensive Spanish language course. Five hours of instruction each morning with the rest of the day free to explore the city. Before each trip always wishing to immerse themselves fully in the locales of their choosing, weeks of at home study, preparation and anticipation opened the way. Aside from being drawn many times to South America, he and Mom elected to live in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti on two separate occasions. There they befriended a young Haitian man who they later helped sponsor into the United States. Two different trips to Beirut, Lebanon in between that country’s troubles. Six weeks living in Cairo, Egypt in a hotel catering to the locals where they were almost mugged until a couple of food-stall vendors stepped in and put paid to that! And, of course, Italy where Dad was overwhelmed by the bathroom facilities at the Vatican, haaa. An amputee since 1963, with one good leg, Dad was unfazed when walking about difficult terrain, ancient streets with their inclines and uneven surfaces, and always steps to climb, steep more often than not. On one of their trips to Guatemala at Tikal, the site of Mayan ruins, together they climbed to the top of one of the pyramid temples. Funny story, when disembarking from a small boat in Mexico, Dad was being assisted onto land, he somehow lost his balance and ended up in the water, thigh deep, slightly askew on his crutches but with his cigar still lit, firmly planted in his mouth. The boatmen after helping him onto shore couldn’t get over it! Pointing to his cigar, they gave him a round of +óGé¼+ôBravos!+óGé¼-¥ On one of our early morning fishing trips back in the mid-60’s, as Dad was driving us over the Melbourne causeway to Indialantic, he pointed to all the birds perched on the power lines to either side of the bridge and asked me +óGé¼+ôTommy, do you know what all those birds have?+óGé¼-¥ After thinking a few moments, I said +óGé¼+ôNo, Dad, what do they have?+óGé¼-¥ He grinned at me and said +óGé¼+ôA good grip.+óGé¼-¥ Gotcha! A very special man, Burt Niro. +óGé¼+ôHe will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or cying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.+óGé¼-¥ Rev 21:4A private service will be held at a later date.