Sean left an indelible mark on downtown Ithaca, and his death is a reminder of the importance of the Third Place

“Downtown will never be the same,” reads the marquis at the State Theater in downtown Ithaca, updated as news of Sean Burns’ death broke late last week. “We will miss you, Sean.”

Never a politician, business tycoon or star of stage or screen, Sean was known as the friendly face behind the bar around the corner. Like many bartenders, he had a tremendous influence on those he served and chatted with, whether it was once, half a dozen times or a hundred.

Between the taps and rows of liquor bottles at Pete’s Cayuga Bar on many nights, Sean served Politicians and local business owners, musicians playing in the back room or a larger venue nearby, and journalists writing about them all. PhD students stopping by to find a quiet spot to read or write over a beer before the place got busy, or to find an excuse to stop reading and writing. Locals and tourists alike, as long as they brought cash. Unfortunately, no plastic.

He might criticize someone for ordering a beer that was too cheap or too expensive, or both, seconds apart at opposite ends of the bar. He might voice his opinion about the new song a regular is working on or where the fish are biting. Before “barstander trainings” focused on patron safety became common, female patrons realized they could count on Sean to keep a watchful eye on the crowd, especially the men around them.

What all these people had in common was that they felt comfortable not only because they were in a bar, but because Sean helped The except for something that is becoming increasingly rare but is still important: a third place. Beyond home and work, it is a place where you feel a sense of belonging, where you want to spend time, and not just go for a transaction.

This concept was popularized by sociologist Ray Oldenburg: A place that is different for everyone is an important anchor that allows people to relax and socialize. This has been particularly challenging during the pandemic, and many familiar places have been closed or become less available in recent years. Many still have such a place, have found a new one, or are looking for a new place.

For some, it’s the public library, safe, air-conditioned and free. For others, it’s a coffee shop or cafe table, even a concrete chessboard or a park bench where you can watch the world go by. Cheers showed us a fictional bar where people from all walks of life feel comfortable and can spend a short or long time. Sean showed us a real bar.

Pete’s Cayuga Bar on South Cayuga Street in downtown Ithaca. 14850 Photo by Mark H. Anbinder.

A memorial is planned for 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 17th in the Rheinhaus. 8×10 prints of a Casey Martin photograph of the State Theatre’s canopy terrace are available for a suggested donation of $10, and 100% of the proceeds will be donated to the Burns family. The Rhine House is located at 632 West Seneca Street, at the corner of Fulton Street, in west Ithaca.

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