Edmond Samuel Burke, Jr.

“Easy Ed” ascended to the chapter eternal on October 24th, 2025, after a valiant fight against cancer.

Edmund Samuel Burke, Jr., son of Edmund and Clara Meade Burke, was born on July 26, 1941, and raised in Mount Airy, North Carolina. The eldest of four boys, Ed was a natural leader—president of his high school student body and later appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy. His heart, however, belonged to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where as head student manager he became a varsity basketball letterman under Coach Dean Smith during Smith’s first season as the Tar Heels head coach.

At UNC, Ed was a proud member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, which remained dear to him throughout his life. After too many star-struck movies and late-night poker games, Ed graduated from UNC and attended Officer Candidate School to become a U.S. Navy aviator. Following two distinguished tours of duty, he left naval service in 1970 and joined IBM, where his discipline and integrity evolved into a lifelong passion for excellence in customer service.

On December 8, 1979, Ed married Eleanor Owings of Union, South Carolina. The couple made their home in Wilmington, North Carolina, where they raised their family. Ed was an active member of First Presbyterian Church and the Wilmington arts community. Over their 22 years in Wilmington, Ed established Wilmington as an IBM regional sales operation and then partnered with IBM as he established his own company, Eastern Technology Associates, retiring in 2004.

Retirement brought Ed back to Chapel Hill and a theater-focused next chapter. Ed was a producer for several theatrical productions, including the Off-Broadway musical Lone Star Love, featuring music by the Chapel Hill rooted Red Clay Ramblers, and the Tony Award winning Broadway hit Nice Work If You Can Get It, starring Matthew Broderick.

In his later years, Ed continued to cherish UNC sports, annual golf trips with his IBM “Richmond Crew,” planning ATO reunions, and spending time at the beach surrounded by his family.

He is survived by his wife, Eleanor; his three brothers, Bill, Smith, and Steve Burke; and his three children: Carrie (Germán) Beziés of Durham, North Carolina; Wells (Kate) Burke of Atlanta, Georgia; and John (Maria) Burke of Kona, Hawaii. He is also survived by his beloved grandchildren: Owen, Margaret, Emily, and Jack.

Ed lived by the belief that life should always be faced looking forward, not back. As he passes from this life to the next, he leaves behind friends, family and causes he carried in his heart—and all who were touched by his loyalty, generosity and optimism will miss him dearly.

A private celebration of life service will be held. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to the UNC's ATO Alpha Delta Foundation - Scholarship Fund: Bank of America, Private Bank (Attn: Robert R. Fox) 620 S. Tryon St.,NC1-030-29-02,Charlotte, NC 28255