Name: Memorial service for TERRY MARK BURKE
Start: 2015-08-19T15:00:00.000Z
Location: First Church in Jamaica Plain, Unitarian Universalist

BURKE, Rev. Terry Mark Age 61, or Roslindale, died surrounded by his family on Aug. 15. Born in Flint, Michigan, Terry came to the area in 1971 and never left. He graduated from Harvard College in 1975, and in 1982 he graduated from Harvard Divinity School, was ordained a Unitarian Universalist minister, and married Ellen McGuire. In January 1983 he began his ministry at First Church in Jamaica Plain, Unitarian Universalist, a small congreation where his wife was organist, which Terry led for 31 years through its revitalization.l Since retirement last summer, he has been Assisting Clergy at Trinity Episcopal Church in Canton. Terry loved to travel; he visited El Salvador and Nicaragua during the 1980s, studied icons and the Orthodox Church in St. Petersburg, Istanbul, the Sinai, and Venice, walked the Camino in 2012 with his daughter, Amelia, and twice visited Jersusalem to meet with religious leaders working for peace. Terry had a deep commitment to social justice; he worked with Jobs for Justice and Interfaith Worker Justice and on environmental issues, and was a Samaritan's phone volunteer. He is survived his brother, Tim and wife Cindy of Saginaw, Michigan; his wife, Ellen McGuire, three daughters, Willow and her wife Laura Hughes of Jamaica Plain, and Amelia and Lucyanna of Roslindale, and many close friends. The memorial service will be at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, August 19, at First Church in Jamaica Plain, Unitarian Universalist. Donations may be made in Terry's memory to Samaritans or Jobs with Justice. Arrangements by Mann & Rodgers Funeral Home, 44 Perkins St., JAMAICA PLAIN, MA. Guestbook at mannandrodgers.com.

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Published by Boston Globe from Aug. 17 to Aug. 18, 2015.

Memories and Condolences
for TERRY BURKE

7 Entries

Robin Yuan

January 14, 2016

My belated condolences to Terry's family on his most premature and untimely passing which came to my attention only recently. Knowing Terry since our freshman year at Harvard as roommates is one of the fondest memories of my college days. He was a most generous, thoughtful, and truly kind human being with a witty sense of humor. He is a bright light in an often dim world and will be missed by everyone whose lives he touched.

Janice Rogovin

August 26, 2015

Terry was one of those special people who gave of himself for the good of others. The world needs more people like him. My sincere condolences to the family.

Patricia Bodnar

August 25, 2015

Our love, thoughts and prayers go out to Ellen and the family at this time. Terry was a remarkable, gentle soul. We are grateful to have been part of his overlapping communities of friendship and ministry in Boston. We know his spirit lives on in his wonderful family and life work.
Pat Bodnar and David Rosenberg

patty Lieber

August 21, 2015

It is with heartfelt sadness that my family and I grieve the loss of your kind and gentle spirit. Over the 26 years that you were our pastor you were also a good friend. Your inspiring words and deeds often spurred us to pursue volunteer work for the greater good. you were there for my family and I for many bad times but also shared some very happy times with us as well. Your devotion to your wife and children shone above all else. We will truly miss your inspiration, kindness, compassion and yes, even those really bad jokes which some were so bad that they did inspire side splitting laughter. I know you are no longer in pain and are with those you love who have already left us. You will always be in our memories. Thank you for the 26 years you were our pastor and friend. Your spirit and devotion to social justice live on in your family and their same commitments.

August 18, 2015

Terry was genuine. He let me and others do a poetry group, grieving racism workshop,a zen meditation workshop,civil rights and celebratory services at the church in the nineties. He was a wise, gentle soul who I will alwaya remember. He set a noble example. Once he let me work part-time as church sexton when I wasin dire financialstraits Peace, brother. Quinton Wilkins,jr.

Martha Stewart

August 18, 2015

My deepest sympathies to Terry's family. He loved you all very much and was always proud of his girls. You were lucky to have such a great Dad who clearly instilled in you his values of social justice and peace. He was full of integrity and gentleness and intellectual curiosity - and jokes!

Martha A. Penzer

August 17, 2015

Terry, there is no eloquence that does your friendship justice. You befriended me; you befriended my family; you befriended many, many people. Intelligent, well-spoken, seeking, humorous, warm, kind; you were wholly unpretentious. In almost 40 years of knowing you, memories flood my mind now: our meeting at the American Church in Paris; discerning your call to serve the spiritual needs of people over going to law school; confiding your delight and gratitude that you'd met the woman with whom you could envision the future-- Ellen; your awe at the arrival of your children and devotion to your family; your fascination with history, your recall of poetry and jokes; your commitment to make a world that is safe for all people without prejudice. Terry, I dare say, you have been a faithful apostle. Our hearts are aching, but accepting, knowing your conviction: God with us.

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