David R. Burke's Obituary
LAWRENCE ? David R. Burke passed away Wednesday, May 27, 2009, surrounded by his family and friends. He was born in Lawrence on April 17, 1940, and was the son of Daniel and Theresa (Mixon) Burke.
He attended Holy Trinity School. He was a member of the Lawrence High School class of 1959, having played on LHS' undefeated state high school champion football teams of 1957 and 1958, under legendary coaches Ed Buckley and Ralph Wolfendale. A football scholarship took him to Trinidad State Junior College in Colorado for two years.
Soon he began his 35-year tenure with the Lawrence Housing Authority, starting as a project manager and retiring as Deputy Director of Occupancy in 2000. He offered help to innumerable residents of public housing in Lawrence.
In 1968, Burke joined the James T. O'Reilly, OSA Division 8 of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, his membership sponsored by Lawrence Mayor John Buckley. Thus began his more public career as an advocate of Irish and Irish-American history and culture. He was Vice-President of Division 8, and served in multiple AOH positions at the division, county and state levels. He served on the National Board of Directors for eight years. In the early 1970s, he was one of the proud few who met Eamon DeValera, the President of Ireland. In 1975 he was selected as the Division 8 AOH Irishman of the Year. In 2003, he was awarded National Life Membership in the Ancient Order of Hibernians by the National Board of the AOH.
In 1991, he suggested to the AOH National Board that all proceeds from the Annual Christmas Appeal be presented in person in Ireland. He accompanied then AOH National President George Clough in 1991 and 1992 to Dublin and in 1993 to Belfast to help make these presentations. From 1994 until 2005, David along with other National Board Officers and Hibernians continued to bring the National Board's Christmas Appeal donation.
He was active on issues of human rights in Northern Ireland, serving on the AOH Human Rights Commission. In this capacity he interviewed imprisoned Irish nationalists and met with the Irish Minister of Foreign Affairs and other officials. He also lobbied for the International Fund for Ireland, which helped fuel Ireland's economic resurgence.
For 30 years he was Division 8's cultural chairman, bringing notable Irish artists, exhibits, musicians, writers and political leaders to Lawrence. He organized the "Irish Fortnight" series in the 1970s and '80s. He co-founded the Boston chapter of the American Institute and more recently co-founded the Lawrence-based Irish Foundation. For 18 years he offered authentic Irish goods and tours of Ireland through his Irish import store, Irish Jaunting Car Imports. His activism in Irish culture and causes earned him recognition as one of the Top 100 Irishmen of the Year in 1991 by Irish American Magazine.
Burke served organizations well beyond his Irish circles. He was a board member of Lawrence's International Institute in the 1970s, winning its Immigrant City Award in 1977. He was an early benefactor and board member of what was then known as the Immigrant City Archives, participating in its move to the former Essex Company complex, and continued to be a staunch supporter of the organization. He served on the Advisory Board of Lawrence Heritage State Park and was one of the park's foremost champions.
He was a founding member of the Lawrence Cultural Alliance and served on its Executive Board. As Senior Volunteer for Mayor Michael Sullivan, he started the Mayor's charity Christmas Turkey Drive. He organized the first Mayor's Conference on the Arts and worked with the Massachusetts Cultural Council, the North of Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce to promote Lawrence's arts, culture and history as a means to improve the city's image, its economy and its quality of life.
As a member of the Board of the Lawrence Public Library he established the Library's Irish Collection, the nation's largest collection of Irish material outside of an academic library.
He served as Master of Ceremonies and Irish Monument Chairman for "An Gorta Mor" ("The Great Hunger"), the Lawrence Irish Famine Memorial that was dedicated on May 6, 2006. Over $40,000 was raised to help make this memorial a reality.
He was the 2007 recipient of The Sean MacBride Humanitarian Award, and in 2008, he was awarded the Irish ECHO Golden Bridges Award.
Burke is survived by his wife of 41 years Patricia C. (Jurewicz) Burke, his son Kevin P. Burke of Lawrence, brother Robert F. Burke and his wife Mona of Lawrence, brother Daniel Burke and his wife Suzanne of Portland, Oregon, his sister Anne Catherine Burke of Eugene, Oregon, as well as many nieces, nephews and friends.
ARRANGEMENTS: Friends may call on Tuesday from 2-9 P.M. at the Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral Home 233 Lawrence Street in Methuen.
A Mass of Christian burial will take place on Wednesday morning at 11 o?clock in Saint Patrick?s Church of South Lawrence with burial to follow in the Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Lawrence.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Bread and Roses 58 Newbury Street Lawrence, Ma. 01840 and the Irish Foundation, Inc. 6 Mount Vernon Terrace Lawrence, Ma. 01843.
Div. 8 A.O.H. Ancient Order of Hibernians will meet Tuesday evening at the funeral home for 7 P.M. services.
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