Paul H. Bourke

He was born the middle-child of two grammar school teachers, Rose and Henry Burke, in Tullamore, County Offaly, Ireland, on New Year’s Eve 1945. He spent most of his time on the golf course, where he excelled, winning tournaments and setting records. He made Tullamore history when he set a new course record of 64, which stands today. Paul won the Tullamore Golf Club championship tournament three years running, and in his honor, the officials renamed the annual tournament the Paul Bourke Cup. When not on the course, Paul ran amok on the backroads with friends, the stories of which have become legend, retold over many late nights since. Paul attended University College Dublin - though those years, it seems, were also largely spent on the golf course. He would immigrate to New York City, following his elder brother Harry, and good friend John Mannion. In December of 1969, he married Irene Spetzler and they became a family of four with the birth of their daughter Renee and son Brendan. Having a family must have inspired him, as once he put his mind to work, he never relented, excelling wherever he went, from becoming the youngest Vice-President of Federal Home Loan Bank in the 70s to COO/CEO of ADP, BYSIS, Altra, Aurum and finally NBS. He worked up until the very end, surprising us all in his final days, still determined to work. His intelligence and work ethic has been an inspiration to both his children and to those with whom he worked.

The 21st century brought to Paul a whole new set of joys in life, from his relationship with Cynthia Haynie, to the birth of his granddaughters Sofia and Rafaela. In Cynthia he found a loving and caring companion. They traveled, played golf, raised a ruckus with good friends, and then set back and watched the sunset from the deck of their home overlooking Galveston Bay. Sofia and Rafaela kept him on his toes, brought new life and energy, and provided the perfect partners in crime with which to share ice cream. In March of this year Cynthia and Paul were married. Their wedding was a testament to their love and the love of their many friends who managed to make it to the ceremony despite finding out only the day before. It's these new family members that would help Paul get through his many battles with cancer, including his final one.

I don't think there are words available to fully sum up all our feelings for Paul and what he meant to us. We take solace in our many shared thoughts and feelings at this time that we will take with us in our days ahead.

Paul is survived by his wife, Cynthia Haynie; his son, Brendan Bourke; daughter and son-in-law, Renee and Tom Botti; grand-daughters, Sofia Irene and Rafaela Bourke; sisters Finola Gilson and Aisling Burke; brother Donn Burke.

The memorial service is to be conducted at three o’clock in the afternoon on Friday, the 24th of June, in the Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston. Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception to be held in the adjacent Grand Foyer.

In lieu of customary remembrances, contributions in Paul’s memory maybe be directed to Golfers Against Cancer, 1700 Lake Kingwood Trail, Kingwood, TX, 77339, or via the electronic address of www.golfersagainstcancer.org ‘Chip In’ link.

The family desires friends and family to share their favorite memories of Paul at the electronic website of www.mem.com. Kindly enter Paul’s first and last name to access his electronic memorial.