Thomas Patrick Burke

Thomas Patrick Burke, 87, died on Tuesday, June 9, 2020, at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital in Torrington. He was the beloved husband of 63 years to Marion (Nolan) Burke. Tom was born at home in Elmhurst, New York on December 12, 1932. He was the fifth of seven children born to James and Mary (Ruane) Burke. Tom graduated from Newtown High School in Elmhurst and enlisted in the Air Force. After returning from South Korea, Tom met Marion Nolan and said it was love at first sight. They married in June of 1957 in New York City and then moved to Connecticut where he began his career at The Torrington Company. He went on to have a 50-year career in the textile machinery industry. They had five daughters. After the birth of their fifth girl, the doctor said, "Tom, you're a lucky man, you have five of a kind." Tom attended Hunter College and St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia, PA. He remained a New Yorker to the core, although he and Marion made a life in Torrington, CT, Garden City, NY, and Litchfield, CT. Tom was passionate about life: he was a sports fanatic, an excellent bridge player, and an avid tennis player. He was a master conversationalist, and a voracious reader who had an infectious curiosity about people. Tom was a celebrity to his five girls, and his sense of humor was meant for the stage. Tom leaves behind his beloved wife of 63 years Marion (Nolan) Burke, his daughters Karen Burke (husband John Pasinosky) of Monterey, California; Eileen (Burke) Hirsch (husband Dr. Barry Hirsch) of Northampton Massachusetts, Doreen Burke of Ashland, Massachusetts; Marybeth Burke (husband Dr. Sam Lambroza J.D.) of Martha's Vineyard, and Alicia Burke (husband Dan Vlossak) of Natick, Massachusetts. Tom loved his grandchildren: Glenna and James Pasinosky; Dr. Thomas Hirsch, Jared and Aidan Hirsch; Ben and Alexandra Mesnick; Nolan, Joe and Kate Lambroza; and Charlie and Anna Vlossak. The family would like to thank the caregivers at Keystone Place at Newbury Brook for their wonderful care and kindness to Tom. Services and burial at St. Anthony Cemetery in Litchfield will be held privately. A Mass to celebrate Tom will be held at a future date to be announced. At the request of the family, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Tom's memory may be made to the Alzheimer's Association. Kindly visit www.thurstonrowefuneralhome.com to send the family an online condolence.