Burlington's William Berges, restaurant owner, firefighter

William Berges, 83, a Burlington restaurateur for almost 40 years and volunteer firefighter who would run out in an apron and jump on a truck when the siren summoned, died of complications from congestive heart failure Saturday at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center.

Mr. Berges owned and operated Ange's Luncheonette at High Street and Route 130 for several decades until 1977. The diner was started by his Greek immigrant parents, Angeles and Chrysanthe.

The diner was famous for its fresh-cut french fries, cheesesteaks, burgers, and assortment of Breyers ice cream, Mr. Berges' daughter Christina Seiler said.

"His life was all about the store," she said. He worked 18 hours a day seven days a week.

Mr. Berger believed that to have a successful business, he had to be there all the time and supervise everything, from serving coffee and breakfast to city workers to feeding lunch to students and local politicians to providing late-night snacks.

The only time Mr. Berger left the diner was to put out a fire as a volunteer for more than 20 years with the Niagara Hose Company.

When the firehouse siren went off, he ran down the block with his cooking apron still wrapped around him, jumped in the fire truck, and drove it to the scene.

After selling his diner to City Pizza, Mr. Berger landed a job with U.S. Pipe and worked there for 22 years as a guard and weigh master.

Mr. Berger had to stop working in 1999 after a massive heart attack.

In retirement, he spent most of his days watching football and other events, his daughter said. He had always been a sports fan, especially of local teams, but had little time to watch when he ran the diner.

Mr. Berger was born in Philadelphia but raised in Burlington. He graduated from Burlington High School in 1943 and served in the Navy Seabees, stationed as a typist in the Pacific during World War II, his daughter said.

When he returned from the war, Mr. Berger started working at Ange's.

He met his future wife, Estelle, at a wedding in New York City in 1949. The pair hit if off and married on Christmas that year because it was the only day when Mr. Berges did not have to work. His wife died in 2005.

In addition to his daughter Christina, Mr. Berges is survived by another daughter, Angela; three grandchildren; and a sister.

Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. today and after 9 a.m. tomorrow at Page Funeral Home, 302 E. Union St., Burlington, where a Greek Orthodox Trisagion service will begin at 10:30. Burial will be in Odd Fellows Cemetery, Burlington.