Stephen Burke

Stephen Patrick Burke was born the second of Joe and Peggy Burke's seven children on March 11, 1951. He attended St. Thomas Aquinas School, where he was active in the Scouts (Just shy of Eagle Scouts!). He loved telling spooky stories around the campfire. He would enthrall the new and younger scouts on their first few camping trips. Most couldn't sleep that weekend ( a chip off the old man's block)!

Stephen was also an alter server, in fact early on, he thought he'd like to enter priesthood. To that end, he opted to go to Cathedral High School. He lasted only a year there before transferring to Bishop Laughlin High School.

Stephen was always a dreamer, he preferred art and writing to sports. He could generally be found reading one of his beloved comic books. Stephen caught the acting bug in high school. He was also in several productions in Iona College. His portrayal of Sheridan White in "The Man Who Came to Dinner" was absolutely fabulous! He continued acting in Street Theatre after school, inspiring a couple siblings to join in.

Stephen loved to cook and bake, he would gladly share any recipe on request. Food in general was very important to Stephen. In fact there was one time he gave away a free ticket to a Yankee playoff game that he was unable to make. Afterward, he called to find out what he missed. Oh, not the game or the grand-slam, nope, he called to find out about the food in the private box...there was a lot of food.

One of Stephen's first jobs after college was working at the Irish Art Center in Manhattan. This is where he met the love of his life, Mary. It was on a trip to Ireland, with a group from the center, that he proposed. They were married from November 22, 1981, until Mary's passing in 2020. Stephen went on to work as doorman on the Upper East Side for 35 years before retiring.

Though Stephen never had children of his own, he loved and cherished his nieces and nephews. His gentle disposition and kid-at-heart nature always won them over.

He will be greatly missed by his remaining family.

A visitation for Stephen will be held Wednesday, December 6, 2023 from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM at Joseph G. Duffy, 255 Ninth Street, Brooklyn, NY 11215. A visitation will occur Wednesday, December 6, 2023 from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM, 255 Ninth Street, Brooklyn, NY 11215. A mass of christian burial will occur Thursday, December 7, 2023 at 9:30 AM at Holy Family St. Thomas Aquinas, 249 9th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11215.