Former Redondo Beach Councilman Paul Burke Dies at 57

Former Redondo Beach Councilman Paul Burke, a community activist who waged a referendum campaign in the 1970s to save Veterans Park from developers, died last week of a massive heart attack. He was 57.

Burke, a retired electrician who lived in San Juan Capistrano but spent two days a week with family in Redondo Beach, served on the Redondo Beach City Council from 1973 to 1977. During his tenure, he spearheaded a referendum that overturned a council decision to approve a senior citizens housing development that would have encroached on Veterans Park.

“He carried the community banner . . . and watched out for homeowners,” City Clerk John L. Oliver said. “The one thing about Paul is he would give you the shirt off his back.”

Burke suffered a heart attack Thursday afternoon while riding in a car being driven by a friend. He was later pronounced dead at South Bay Hospital.

Burke launched his first run for the council, in 1973, just one day before the filing deadline expired, his brother, Henry Burke, said. He made the decision to enter the race after learning that incumbent Augie Salvail had no challengers in the upcoming election.

“It was amazing to him that the city councilman in our district was unopposed,” Henry Burke said. “It was just a natural thing for him to do to say, ‘We’re no different than anybody else. What about me?’ ”

Burke won with 1,067 votes, the largest number of votes any candidate has received in the history of District 2.

He is survived by six children, ages 16 to 25, and five brothers. His wife, Dorothy, died of cancer in 1990.