We lost a great one this week. On Sunday, August 12, 2018, Thomas J. Burke, loving husband and father of four, passed away at the age of 70. Tom was born on January 1, 1948 in Chicago, IL to Bernard and Eileen (Lawrence) Burke. On April 4, 1969, he was lucky enough to marry Sheila Sullivan and together they raised three daughters and one son.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents and his sisters, Mary Therese and Sharon. He is survived by his wife, Sheila; his four children, Therese, Kathryn, Eileen and Brian; and his sister, Eileen, all of whom he loved deeply. He is PopPop to his three adoring grandchildren, Clara, Maggie and Brendan Pratt. He treated his nieces and nephews, his son-in-law, Danny, and future daughter-in-law, Jordan, like they were his own.

After receiving a Bachelor’s Degree from St. Joseph’s College in Indiana, Tom built a long, successful career at IBM, which moved the Burkes around the country before they settled in New York. There, Tom managed the IBM Gallery of Science and Art in Manhattan and later became IBM’s Director of Sports Marketing. Tom and Sheila traveled the world to attend tennis and golf tournaments, but it was the past 5 years that he was his happiest, living his dream retirement in North Carolina.

Tom was an avid golfer, ultimate grill master and Notre Dame football fanatic. He is best known for his infectious sense of humor, and the only thing he loved more than laughing was making others laugh. His legendary stories will live on. He was a true character, and we were all lucky to call him friend, brother, husband, dad, father-in-law, uncle and PopPop.

A Mass will be held on Thursday, August 16, 2018 at St. Brendan’s Catholic Church at 5101 Ocean Highway West in Shallotte at 10 o’clock a.m.

Instead of donations, the family asks that in his memory you give an extra tip to your bartender or caddy in Tom’s name.