Submitted by: Dan Rich

 

Rev. J. David Burke CSC

Aug. 30, 1937 - Nov. 30, 2006

South Bend Tribune 12/2/2006

Rev. J. David Burke, CSC, died at Holy Cross House, Notre Dame IN. on Thursday, November 30, 2006, after a long bout with cancer. Many members of his family were with him at the time of his death. Fr. Burke was born to Raymond and Mary Amalda (Hamilton) Burke on August 30, 1937, in Orange, New Jersey. He attended Our Lady of Lourdes Grade School and Seton Hall Prep. After a semester at Seton Hall University he transferred to the University of Notre Dame and the college seminary program in January of 1956.

He entered Sacred Heart Novitiate, Jordan, MN on August 15, 1957, and pronounced first vows August 21, 1958. He returned to Notre Dame and Moreau Seminary, graduating in 1959. Fr. Burke went to Rome for his study of theology earning an STB from the Gregorian University in 1962. He was ordained to the priesthood in June, 1965, by Bishop Leo Pursley in Sacred Heart Church, Notre Dame. He was assigned to Notre Dame High School, Niles, IL, and remained there until 1969, teaching religion. After a year of preparation for doctoral work at the Rice Institute in Houston, TX, he entered the graduate school at the University of Southern California in 1970. He was awarded a doctoral degree in 1979 in Philosophy of Religion.

Fr. Burke spent the remainder of his career serving in a variety of parochial and educational apostolates in Southern California. Among them were: Marymount High School, Corpus Christi, St. Bernard of Sienna, and St. Elizabeth Seton Parishes. He taught Philosophy and Theology at Loyola Marymount and Pepperdine Universities and later taught art history at Pepperdine. He had an avid interest in the hidden mysteries and secrets of religious art. He also assisted at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks under the direction of the Brothers of Holy Cross, Southwest Province. Fr. Burke will be remembered for his kindness and sprite-like spirit. Fr. Burke was preceded in death by his parents Raymond and Mary Amalda Burke and is survived by his sister Mary Kimmins of Tucson Arizona, a brother Raymond Burke from Tinton Falls, New Jersey, along with nieces, nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews.

Viewing for Fr. Burke will be held in the Chapel of Moreau Seminary, University of Notre Dame, on Sunday, December 3, from 3:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., with a wake service at 4:30 p.m. The funeral Mass will be celebrated at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Notre Dame, on Monday, December 4, at 3:30 p.m. Kaniewski Funeral Home is handling arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to Holy Cross House at P O Box 1048, Notre Dame, Indiana, 46556.