NEWBURGH – Funeral services were held on Wednesday for Harvey Burger, a pillar in the community who died days ago at age 91.
Mayor Torrance Harvey called him “a true leader and pioneer in our city.”
A businessman who owned a restaurant and liquor store, he also had a vast political history having served on the Orange County Legislature for years.
He was also a community leader, who along with friends, formed Brave New Focus, and “adopted” a block of Liberty Street, replacing the blight of abandoned buildings and decay with new businesses and affordable housing.
During his lifetime of service in Newburgh, Burger was a scout master for the Boy Scouts, coached the Glenn Hines basketball and softballs teams and coached teams at the Goshen Annex School for Boys.
For over 15 years, he served as president of the Newburgh NAACP and held the position of executive director of the Glenn E. Hines Center for 30 years.
