Joe Hayes praises Dan for long service to Knights and coolness in crises "Msgr. John's Knights" took time out on Saturday evening Feb. 24 at Koenig's Restaurant in nearby Floral Park to "roast" and "toast" Dan Burns, their longtime Director of Advertising, Promotion and Publicity.

Coordinating the evening of family fun were Grand Knight Bob Guida and the hard-working quartet of Chairman "Jay" Lynch, John Parks, Joe Hayes and Past Grand Knight Jim Cioffi.

Joining the Knights in the celebration were Msgr. "Father John" Gilmartin, Pastor, Fr. Rudy Pescongo, Knights' Chaplain, St. Anne's parishioners and a fine turnout of the honoree's family and friends.

Among those friends were members of Dan's promotion department at a New York City advertising agency, William Esty Co. He had retired in 1983 as Senior Vice-President, Director of Promotion-- after 30 years of service at the one firm. During his time at the agency, he and his group serviced clients such as Colgate, Nabisco, General Mills, Seagram's, Ballantine Beer & Ale, Coca-Coca Bottling of New York, Union Carbide, Nissan, Hunt-Wesson, Mastercard, Sunoco and Warner-Lambert.

Gene Burns, veteran trial attorney, exposes ad jingle madness at the Burns home Chairman "Jay" Lynch, whose family had created a series of posters reviewing the activities of the honoree, welcomed the spirited audience. He praised Dan particularly for his five-stage publicity drive in the Garden City News supporting the highly successful Andy Cooney Concert

Keynoter of the evening, Joe Hayes reviewed Dan's roles as Founder and Editor of The Legacy, Council Recorder, Ad Creator and Publicist for numerous Knights' charities. Joe praised his calmness under stress as the two sought to have his ailing computer repaired overnight as the Cooney "Playbill" publication deadline grew near.

Sending the audience into fits of laughter, Dan's towering son Gene, longtime trial lawyer, mimicked "Pop" Burns as avidly teaching the family to sing his agency's ad jingles, filling scads of yellow foolscap pads with secret promotion plans not to be shared with the kids in the neighborhood or even whispered in a confessional! He recalled "Pop," in addition to promotions, created a Coke jingle and invented "King Stir," a powdered soft drink compacted on the end of a swizzle stick. In test markets, it "flew off the shelves"--not the result of consumer demand but the result of a foil package leak that helped toss them unceremoniously to the supermarket aisle! You can't win 'em all!

PGKBob McAuliffe serenaded Dan with "Oh! Danny Burns.." Daughter Adele, a NYC school principal, focused her sense of humor on "Life With Father--A Tale of Two Cities." The father who treated the kids who had grown up in Brooklyn to visits to the park and baseball games and the other father who treated the kids who had grown up in Garden City to nightly games of poker, fan-tan and Rummy 500--games he liked to win! She said he thought of a two- week family vacation as just enough time to paint the house. And she added, he had a corny sense of humor and reminded her of Bob Hope. However, she had high praise for "Pop" as one of Tom Brokaw's "greatest generation."

Granddaughter Madeline--a Fordham U. freshman and Ford Agency advertising model--noted "behind every successful man is a woman" in a special tribute to Mrs. Dan Burns--formerly Adele Valerie Casey. She first met Dan in 1937 when he was Editor of the St. Francis College newspaper and college correspondent for the old Brooklyn EAGLE. Following an interview, he wrote an article on her winning a series of full college scholarships while a senior at St. Savior H.S. in Brooklyn. She later joined his unique staff of Confraternity teachers (all Junior and Senior undergraduates in Catholic colleges) in Immaculate Heart of Mary parish.

Chairman "Jay" Lynch opens "Roast and Toast" Night Grand Knight Bob Guida in assessing the memorable night recalled how, after his Dad's passing, he would still prayerfully ask his advice on matters. He envisioned him tonight as saying: "Act just like Dan Burns..not controversial but leading by quiet example!"

Past Grand Knight Bob McAuliffe--who has done a masterful job in succeeding Dan as Legacy Editor and Council Recorder---serenaded his predecessor with the vocal gift of "Oh, Danny Burns" in tribute to his services. Jim Dougherty presented him with a plaque of appreciation, John Parks a gold desk set recalling his roast night and Jim Cioffi a dramatic 3 x 5 ft. framed poster celebrating the !00th anniversary of the New York subways--- in memory of "Ike" Burns, Dan's father, and three brothers, all railroaders like the presenter.

Knights' Chaplain Fr. Rudy Pesongco offers Grace PGK Jim Cioffi. The framed MTA CENTENNIAL poster was from all the Grand Knights. The plaque from the Past Grand Knights. And, the desk set from the "Oh! Danny Boy" Roast Committee.

The colorful evening of '' "roasts" and "toasts"...dining and dancing...greeting old friends and making new ones... was beautifully captured by the ever-present and flashing camera of Mary Ann Guida.

"Msgr. John's Knights" represent the Msgr. John C. Seidenschwang Knights of Columbus.

Adele Burns, NYC school principal, expounds on "life with father"for the Garden City-raised Burns children L.I. Railroader Jim Cioffi, PGK awards subway centennial poster from all the Grand Knights to Dan in memory of his father, Ike" Burns and three other Burns railroaders Grand Knight Bob Guida offers advice on Dan from his late father† Granddaughter Madeline, Ford ad model:"Behind every successful man is a woman."A tribute to Dan's wife Roast committee:John Parks, chair "Jay" Lynch, Joe Hayes, Hon. "Roastee"Dan Burns, G.K.Bob Guida and PGK Jm Cioffi Mr. &Mrs. Mike Boldizar, Mr. &Mrs. Jm Cioffi, PGK, Mr. &Mrs. Bob Guida PGKJim Dougherty and wife Toni joined the dance Brendan Galligan moves in the best of circles Former associates of Dan Burns at William Esty Advertising, N.Y. City. Standing: Tom Hamilton, his successor, and Dan. Seated: Bob Petrucci with Florence Merola. Standing: Mrs. Madeline Nugent, Mrs. Rita Popper and Rita D'Amato Dr. Anthony &Marianne Battista, Knights chaplain Fr. Rudy Pesongco, Mrs. Greg Cooper and Ann Cooper Williams. Standing: Eileen & Bob McAuliffe, PGK and Greg Cooper Adele &Dan Burns' grandchildren:Justin Wright, Evan Fagan, Madeline Burns, Sara Schroeter and Jennifer Warner (family friend). Standing:Aidan and Dylan Wright, Nick and Damien Schroeter. Vivian Flood, Bill and Linda Leone, Laura Hand. Standing:John and Mary Pat Sullivan, Maggie and Grace with John & Margaret Parks and Bob Hand Brendan &Marilyn Galligan, Ray &Kay Sullivan, (Standing: Delores &Frank Califano), Jim &Toni Dougherty, Cesare &Mrs. Lucano. Dr. Margaret Burns, Mrs. Barbara Wright, Mrs. Adele Schroeter, Evan &Marie Fagan and Anthony &Allison Parks. (Anthony Parks was also a member of Dan's promotion department.) Jan Lynch, Mrs. Kevin McQuade. Standing:"Jay" Lynch, Msgr. ("Father John") Gilmartin, Mike Lynch, Leo Driscoll and Kevin McQuade Adelaine Parks, Msgr. ("Father John") Gilmartin, Peggy Irwin, Kay Hayes and Marie Louise Straton. Standing:Arthur &Dolores Abrahamson, Joe Hayes and Jack McAuliffe. John Palkot &Alice Pavins, Jim Madara, Mrs. Helen Madara, Adele &Dan Burns. Standing:Dorothy &Gene Burns and Daniel M. Burns, Jr and Clare Burns