Thomas J. Burke Sr.'s Obituary
Thomas J Burke, Sr. of Cinnaminson, N.J. passed away peacefully on Tuesday March 16, 2021 in the company of two of his children. In these pandemic times, all his children, and often his grandchildren, were with him in shifts during the days and hours leading up to his passing. He was never alone for which all his children are grateful. He was 93.
Tom was born in Philadelphia, PA on October 28, 1927, the last-born child of Irish immigrants from County Mayo, Ireland. His father was Stephen J Burke of Bohaun and later Doon Westport and his mother was Margaret A (Roache) Burke of Cashel Turlough.
Tom was the much-loved husband of Mary Jo (Flaherty) Burke who predeceased him in October of 2019. They were married and devoted to each other for nearly 66 years. He is the loving father of Thomas Jr. (Pam), Joseph (Maureen), Mary Kathryn Ley (the late Theodore), Michael (Tracy), Kevin (Lynne), Rosanne Purcell (John), the late James, and deceased infants Anita Marie and Karen Marie, grandfather of 18 and great grandfather of 13.
Born in Misericordia Hospital in Philadelphia, Tom spent his first years in a solidly Irish neighborhood in southwest Philadelphia. In 1929, his parents purchased a newly built home on C Street in the Olney neighborhood of lower northeast Philadelphia, which was made up at the time of row homes and open space. For the duration of the Depression, the Burkes were one of the lucky families whose breadwinner had a steady, reliable job. Although money was very tight, Tom and his brothers, Charles, Steve, and Andy and his sister, Marie, knew a lot of stability in uncertain times. Tom often spoke of the loving atmosphere of the home, his mother’s scone, soda bread, tea, and pinochle around the family kitchen table. He also fondly recalled the Irish parties in the basement, his father’s recitation of “The Foggy Dew”, and beer brewed in the upstairs bath during Prohibition.
Tom began his Catholic education at St. Ambrose grade school up the street from his home. He completed high school at Northeast Catholic High School during the waning days of WW2. Upon graduation, he wanted to enlist in the US Army as all three of his brothers were in the service: Charles (Navy), Steve (Army), and Andy (Marines). His mother had other plans, however; after he graduated from high school, his mother cajoled both him and the President of Villanova University that he should enter the college and study engineering. He completed one semester, partly and gratefully financed by money sent home by his brother Charles, until he was drafted. After basic training, he was scheduled to go to Japan for the Occupation but was struck with appendicitis days before departure and his outfit left without him.
Tom re-enrolled in Villanova in 1947 under the GI Bill and completed his four years with a BSEE (Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering). After graduation, he began his career at Philco in Philadelphia and followed that with a job in Allentown with Lehigh Valley Engineering. During this period, he began dating Mary Jo and commuted back and forth to Philadelphia while also studying for his master’s degree at Lehigh University. He knew that he would return to Philadelphia because both Mary Jo and his parents wanted him back in Philly. Consequently, he took a job with RCA in Camden, N.J. and stayed with the company until retirement.
Both Tom and his future wife Mary Jo belonged to the Catholic Discussion Club in Philadelphia. When Mary Jo moved in February of 1953 to a new apartment in the city, she sent a “Change of Address” card to her friends and acquaintances as was the custom at the time. Tom mistook her change of address card as an invitation to call on her outside the discussion club. His commute between Allentown and Philadelphia began and within four months they were engaged. Four months later, on Nov. 21, 1953, they exchanged marriage vows at Saint Patrick's Church on S. 20th Street in Philadelphia, the same church in which his parents wed in June of 1920.
Tom and Mary Jo went on to have a large family, starting in 1955 with Tommy and ending in 1969 with Jamie.
During his career, he worked in support of missile re-entry tests, the NASA Mercury and Gemini Programs, moon exploration missions, and astronaut recoveries mostly in the Atlantic and mid-Pacific Oceans. In fact, articles were written about these efforts; one in particular referred to the men working on these projects as “The Seven Experts of the Free World” - one of whom was Tom Burke! In 1970, the whole family moved to Kwajalein, Marshall Islands in Micronesia. While there, Tom worked on defense missile systems commuting everyday by airplane to another island, Roi-Namur. Tom and the family returned state-side in 1974 and he continued working at RCA. Immediately after retirement, Tom started his own consulting company, working on many of the same projects he had been working on with his former employer. After a number of years hiatus, Tom returned to the workforce as a toll collector for the Burlington County Bridge Commission.
Tom and Mary Jo taught Irish adult ceili dancing for many years and performed at exhibitions and parades with dancing groups. They also enjoyed many ceilis and hoolies, and, of course, the annual Mayo Ball at the Philadelphia Irish Center. They were also longtime season ticket holders of Villanova basketball and football. For 10 of their retirement years, Tom and Mary Jo fulfilled a long-held goal: visiting the 48 contiguous states in a motor home. They were also cruise enthusiasts.
Strong in his faith and active in church life at St. Charles Borromeo, Tom was a Eucharistic Minister, member of the Holy Name Society, active in Marriage Encounter, head usher in the church, and a reliable multi-year volunteer at the annual parish carnival.
Tom is also survived by many nieces, nephews, extended family members in the US and Ireland, and friends who will miss him dearly.
Relatives and friends are invited to gather from 9 to 10:00 a.m. on Monday, March 22, at Givnish of Cinnaminson, 1200 Rt. 130 North. Tom’s Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10:30 a.m. at St. Charles Borromeo Church, 2500 Branch Pike, Cinnaminson. Interment will follow in Lakeview Memorial Park, Cinnaminson.
Thomas' funeral Mass will be livestreamed and can be viewed using this link: https://my.gather.app/remember/thomas-burke
In lieu of flowers, donations in Tom’s name may be made to Good Counsel Homes, Inc. https://www.goodcounselhomes.org/how-to-help/donate. Please choose “South Jersey Home” in the drop box or donations may be sent to Good Counsel Homes, Inc. 116 Heulings Avenue, Riverside, NJ 08075.
To share your condolences and memories, please visit www.Givnish.com.
What’s your fondest memory of Thomas?
What’s a lesson you learned from Thomas?
Share a story where Thomas' kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Thomas you’ll never forget.
How did Thomas make you smile?