Burton Montalbano Obituary

I only met Burt when I started my month of entertaining at Fox's Pub in the beginning of November. He would be there on the side of the stage or at the closest place at the bar in his chair with the red flag on it. At first I took little notice but as the days went on he would almost always be there. I learned his name and got to talking to him from time to time. As the month went on and he was there most nights I found out that he liked the country music and would play a few for him each night. He always gave a smile and a wave and we developed a good rapport. On my breaks somtimes We'd talk and I remember he was so friendly and would share his thoughts about music and this and that, which would be about music and his kids and stamps and life. He told me about how he would record the country music stations from the time he was a young teenager and that he had a lot of these recordings being made into copies so his kids would always have the music that he loved. I thought that was touching. The last day of his life he gave me two of his favorite Merle Haggard CD's that he wanted me to copy and then learn a song or two (maybe all of them). He told me he could put his music on at night and leave it on all night and fall asleep to it. We talked about my daughter and his kids and how it would be good for kids to collect stamps these days. He was a sweet guy and a pleasure to be around. I'm glad I got to know him. I just wish he could've stuck around longer. Though I knew him a short time I will miss him and remember him.