Ronald Burke

Rev. Ronald A. Burke The Rev. Ronald A. Burke died peacefully in his sleep Saturday, June 19th a week after his 82nd birthday. He was born and raised in the Sunset district of San Francisco. He attended St. Anthony's Grammar School in S.F., St. Patrick's Grammar School in San Jose and St. Anne's Grammar School in San Francisco. After St. Anne's he entered St. Joseph's Seminary for high School, then on to St. Patrick's Seminary to complete college and theological studies. He was ordained at Old St. Mary's Cathedral on June 11th, 1954. He was a champion aquatic diver while at the seminary, this skill honed while spending memory filled summers on the Russian River. He will always be remembered by "river rats" of this era, as a master boatman, ferrying his sisters and friends between Rio Nido and Guerneville on his motorboat the NYLIC. The carpentry skills he acquired while building a summer home and tree house with his father in Rio Nido were shared in his ministry wherever he served, often to the consternation of local building inspectors. What will always be remembered by those who knew him was his devotion to his flock, the priesthood and his amazing faith in God and the Church. He is survived by three sisters; Patricia and husband Larry Lawson; Mary Helen and husband Ralph Salvemini, Barbara and husband John Mallen and the late Rita and her husband Bob Folsom; he is also survived by a large loving family of 17 nieces and nephews, 24 grandnieces and nephews and 1 great-great nephew. The Rev. Burke spent the last 56 years as a Catholic priest tending to the spiritual needs of parishioners in the communities of San Francisco, Oakland, Gilroy, San Jose and San Bruno. While in Gilroy he helped create building coops and credit unions to assist farm workers in acquiring housing. He spent nearly two decades out of the country in the highlands of Guatemala and the lowlands of Mexico on special assignments as a missionary for the Latin America Mission Program. Although he was beloved by the indigenous people he served in Guatemala, his work to promote social justice and improve the conditions of a disenfranchised people, resulted in his name being placed on a "death list" by a paramilitary group determined to maintain the status quo of oppression. The family would like to thank Mission Hospice of San Mateo and the loving caregivers at Maria's House for the Aged and especially his niece Lori who spent countless loving hours with our uncle over the past decade visiting him, taking him to lunch and bringing him to doctor's appointments. Friends may visit on Tuesday June 22nd at 6:00pm and are invited to attend a Vigil Service at 7:00pm at St. Bruno Church, 555 San Bruno Avenue W (Hensley Ave & Green St), San Bruno. A Funeral Mass will be Celebrated on Wednesday, June 23, 2010 at 10:00am at St. Bruno Church. Interment Holy Cross Cemetery. Donations may be made to St. Bruno Church or Mission Hospice of San Mateo, 1900 O'Farrell St., Ste 200, San Mateo, CA 94403. Online Condolences www.duggansserra.com