CLIFTON PARK – Thomas J. “Tompa” Burke, born February 28, 1927 in New York City and raised in the Bronx, passed from this world, at home in Florida surrounded by his loving family, to be welcomed by our Heavenly Father into eternal peace on September 23, 2015.
He is preceded in death by his father, Jeremiah Peter Burke and his mother, Bridget Daly Burke to whom he was the only child.
Mr. Burke enlisted in the US Navy during WWII. He was a crew member on the USS Gantner DE60/APD 42 serving in the American, European, African/Middle East and Pacific Asian Theatres. Mr. Burke saw action in the Allied invasion of Normandy on “D - Day” June 6, 1944. He was attached to a Naval Combat Demolition Unit (NCDU) tasked with blowing gaps in Nazi beach defenses for troops landing at Omaha Beach. Later, he became a member of the Navy’s elite Underwater Demolition Teams (UDT) also known as frogmen, the original incarnation of today’s Navy SEALS. He participated in numerous reconnaissance/combat actions including the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Mr. Burke had a distinguished career in the Navy receiving a number of medals, awards and commendations including a Purple Heart and a Presidential Citation. After his honorable discharge from the Armed Services of our nation, Mr. Burke returned to NYC and worked in law enforcement prior to making a career change focusing on the business of finance and credit.
At that time he met his future bride, Marie Orientale. The Burkes were married on May 31, 1953 at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The Burkes enjoyed a loving, happy marriage of mutual trust and respect for more than 62 years during which they raised three children, two sons and a daughter. In the mid-1960s Mr. Burke moved his family from Long Island to upstate New York where after a period of time he changed careers again, purchasing a Dunkin Donuts in Saratoga Springs and investing in real estate. He passed his entrepreneurial spirit on to his two sons who grew and diversified the Dunkin Donuts and real estate development businesses. The Burkes resided full time in Clifton Park for 40 years until becoming “snow-birds” in 2003 when they purchased a home on the Gulf Coast of Florida. A sailor at heart, Mr. Burke never lost his love of the water and enjoyed many summers boating on Lake George. He was also an avid reader, enjoyed westerns and was an expert on military history. Mr. Burke’s love of country was exceeded only by his love of family and God.
Mr. Burke is survived by his wife Marie, his sons Thomas (Regina) Burke, Jeremiah Burke, and daughter, Francine (Mazen) Haddad; his seven grandchildren, Lindsay (Eric) Szeszycki, Ashley (Joseph) Varco, McKenzie (Kyle) Klopstock, Thomas Burke III, Reilly Burke, Courtney Burke and Jeremiah Burke and five great-grandchildren Samantha Varco, Cade Szeszycki, Dominic Varco, Jeremiah Varco and Burke Klopstock.
A private viewing and Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated followed by interment with military honors at the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery.
Arrangements are under the direction of the William J. Burke & Sons/Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Homes of 628 North Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY (518-584-5373).
Contributions in Tom’s memory may be made to the UDT-SEAL Association at www.udtseal.org.
