Credit: Middletown Township
The man who served as Middletown Township manager during a pivotal time in the 1980s and 1990s has passed away.
Former township manager and longtime resident John Burke died early Friday morning after a long battle with cancer. He was 74 years old.
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Burke served as township manager from June 1984 until March 2004. His time at the township saw a large amount of development of business areas, construction of new neighborhoods in the Langhorne section, the planning and competition of a new municipal center, and preservation of open space.
Before coming to Middletown Township, Burke worked as manager in Buckingham Township. After leaving the Middletown Township job after 20 years, Burke moved on to work in New Hope Borough for a dozen years before retiring in 2016.
“John was a long-time manager who had a significant impact on the staff and the community at large,” said Middletown Township Board of Supervisors Chairman Mike Ksiazek. “Middletown has lost a true gentleman and a dedicated public servant.”
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State Rep. Frank Farry served as Middletown Township assistant manager before running for elected office. He was hired by Burke in 2000.
“He was renowned as one of the best township managers in the county. He was respected around the state, and he was always a fair person and honest,” Farry said.
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Farry recalled that Burke knew the township’s regulations by memory.
“People who never even lived here during his time as manager benefited from what he did,” he said.
“Our hearts are with John’s family during this time of grief and mourning,” Middletown Township officials said in a statement.
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