Brian Thomas Burke

1945 - 2025

Brian Thomas Burke
February 21, 1945 - September 7, 2025
Brian Thomas Burke, 80, died at home in Santa Monica on September 7, 2025, of complications related to blood and organ cancers.
Brian was born on February 21, 1945, in Seattle, WA, the youngest of five children to William Emmett Burke and Lillian Catherine Burke. Brian and his family lived in several cities in Illinois, Pennsylvania, and California before settling down in Pasadena, CA, where Brian spent his high school years.
After graduating from Pasadena High in 1963, Brian worked for the US Forest Service, fighting fires.
He then began his educational journey, earning an AA from Pasadena City College, followed by a BA from UC Berkeley, a Master's in English from Sonoma State University, and finally a Master's in Education Administration from San Francisco State University in 1984.
When he wasn't attending school, he was teaching and serving the community. During his college years he worked as a counselor for the CA School for the Blind, the Ronoh Pre-school in Berkeley, as well as the Hanna Boys Center.
In 1973 Brian married Joan Molitor in the small rural community of Covelo in Northern California. There they purchased 70 acres of foothill land and designed a home which Brian built from the ground up. In 1976 their son, Julian, was born, followed by a daughter, Heather (1979-1980) and a son, Devin (1984-1991). Brian and Joan divorced in 1988, but remained close.
In Covelo Brian taught junior high and high school for Round Valley Schools, specializing in English and Drama. He produced and directed many productions in the valley, bringing high school students to the stage, and later shared his talents with adults in the community when he and others revived the Round Valley Community Theater.
In 2001, Brian shifted to administration and began his first role as principal at Round Valley Elementary School. In 2003, he moved to Sebastopol where he served as principal at Forestville High School and later Harmony High School. In 2006, he moved to Santa Monica and again took a role as principal. It was in Santa Monica that he met Robin McCaffery, and they married on October 19, 2015.
Brian was a brilliant teacher, director, father, and grandfather, who had a passion for learning, writing, nature, photography, fitness, and politics. He loved his family and community and will be deeply missed and always remembered. He was perpetually cheerful, positive, fun, kind and so very thoughtful about just about everything.
Brian is already deeply missed by many including his wife, Robin; her daughters, Katherine DePaulo of Los Angeles and Christine Gilland of New York and their families; his son, Julian Burke of Riverside; Julian's wife, Rachel; and their four boys. Additional surviving loved ones are Brian's brother, Emmett Burke, and wife, Mary Jo of Seattle; and brother, Padraic Burke, also of Seattle; as well as many nieces and nephews.
Celebrations of life have been private. Donations in Brian's memory can be made to the Yosemite Conservancy at Yosemite.org.