John BURKE

BURKE, Dr. John Peter
October 9th, 1923 – December 9th, 2012
Dr. John Peter Burke was born in Fergus, Ontario. Son of Frederick Burke and Nina (Jeannine) Sailly, Peter grew up in the Village of Rockcliffe Park where he then raised his own family. After acquiring a Bachelor of History at McGill University, Peter went on to study medicine, receiving his medical degree from the University of Ottawa in 1951. While a resident at the Boston General Hospital in 1956, he met his bride-to-be, Barbara Messier. They were married in Boston on October 17th and moved to Ottawa shortly thereafter.
Peter was awarded a Fellowship in Pathology in 1957 by the College of American Pathologists before taking up a position as Staff Pathologist and Director of Laboratories at the Montfort Hospital in Ottawa, where he worked until his retirement in 1984. Peter also taught pathology at the School of Medicine at the University of Ottawa and was elected Emeritus member of the Ontario Association of Pathologists in 1987.
Peter enjoyed life to the fullest; a gifted artist, he was a member of the Gatineau Group with whom he enjoyed many Saturdays painting and he loved travelling with his wife. He was a very loving Grandfather who took great pride listening to the many adventures of his three Grandchildren. Peter was blessed with great friends throughout his life, who enjoyed his sense of humor and genuine kindness.
Peter is survived by his wife of 56 years, Barbara, his daughters Ariane and Nina, and Sons-in-Law, Thomas Birch and Donald Watson, as well as three Grandchildren: James, Leah and William, who remember their Bon-Papa fondly.
A Memorial Service will be held at The Church of St. Bartholomew, 125 MacKay Street, Ottawa, on Friday, December 21 at 11 a.m. For those who wish, memorial contributions in his memory may be directed to the Montfort Hospital, Montfort Hospital Foundation, 713 Montreal Road, Ottawa, Ontario K1K 0T2, Telephone (613) 748-4920 (www.hopitalmontfort.com/donationGift), or The Dean's Priority Fund, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa c/o Ms. Gayle McGibbon – 613.562.5800, ext 8562.