Dick Buerkele
Sept. 3, 1947-June 22, 2020
Sept. 3, 1947-June 22, 2020
The Atlanta Journal Constitution said it better than we can regarding Dick Buerkele including remembrances from his immediate family. We ask you to refer to this obituary written by Ken Sugiura.
The picture in the obituary is clearly Dick sitting at the foot of a statue commemorating Dave Wottle's victory at Munich. A month or so ago we posted this interview with Dave about a race the two men had in Rochester., NY one summer. see earlier article.
Dick Buerkele Rochester mile
George,
Ironic how the picture and discussions you posted about Dick Buerkle occurred so closely to his passing away.
Just a note regarding the picture accompanying his obituary. He is posing at the feet of the top 4 finalishers in the Montreal Oly 5,000 won by Viren.
John Saunders, a true track nut and Atlanta lawyer serves as an Honorary Consul for Finland. He raised the money to have Finnish sculptor Eino honor Viren with a statue at the spot where Lasse entered Piedmont Park, the home stretch of the Peachtree Road Race.
I’m not sure what year he ran, but probably ‘73 or ‘74.
The connection between the Viren statue and Dick was the ‘76 Olympics where he did get to represent USA. he didn’t make the finals.
Then in ‘80, he didn’t get to run after making the team again cuz of the boycott.
Viren ran the Peachtree RR In ‘77, not earlier as I guessed.
Roy Benson
Dick Buerkele Rochester mile
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| This photo is from the Villanova track blog, taken in Germany in 1974. Unknown runner, Marty Liquori, Tom Fleming, and Dick Buerkele all in sartorial splendor. Note the European club set up with a swimming pool/diving tower right next to the track. |
George,
Flying back from Portland after 2016 Olympic Trials, I had a seat by Dick Buerkele. We had a good hour conversation about track and mutual friends. Dick had Parkinsons' and had to take some pills to calm his vibrations. Said he still managed to get in a run
most days. Everyone says he was a great guy, and I concur.
Bruce Kritzler
I love the “high water” adidas warm up pants Liquori is wearing
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