Patrick Edward Burke

Patrick Edward Burke passed peacefully from this life to his eternal rest on December 24, 2023, in Orlando, Florida surrounded by the comforts of his home where the love of his family was constantly felt. He was 56. Three things defined Patrick – faith, family and his love of flying. Patrick’s Catholic faith, instilled by his parents, grew deeper each year of Patrick’s life. Patrick cherished his faith and worked hard each day to make his life an example of what he believed. Each morning he prayed with his wife the rosary and ended his day with family prayer. Handing down the faith to his children was important to him. He was a member of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus. Patrick celebrated 33 years of marriage to his wife, Kimberly (Werline) Burke this December. They have been blessed with four children – Thomas, Joseph, Maria Rose and Lucy as well as a daughter-in-law, Sophia (Anthony) Burke. Patrick joyously welcomed his first grandchild, Cecilia Bernadette (daughter of Thomas and Sophia Burke), just a few short weeks ago. When Patrick was 11 years old, he and his father were captivated by stories from a family friend, a young pilot, about his flying experiences. This sparked in Patrick a lifelong interest in and love of flying, leading to an aviation career that spanned more than 30 years. Patrick was born in Elwood, Indiana on September 25, 1967, to Thomas and Judith Burke – the second of four children and the only son. Patrick and his sisters all had various part-time jobs at the family business, Burke Pharmacy, which included mowing the lawn, stocking shelves, and delivering prescriptions. Patrick’s early jobs also included a paper route and de tasseling corn. Patrick’s childhood was marked by the loss of his father to cancer when Patrick was 13 and by the quiet strength and dedication of his mother in leading the family through that loss. Patrick’s appreciation for family and the strength of his character is rooted in that experience. Patrick graduated from Elwood Community High School in 1986. He obtained an associate degree in Aviation Flight Technology from Vincennes University in 1988 and a B.S. in Aviation Flight Technology from Purdue University in 1990. He was a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity. In 1990, Patrick commenced his aviation career as a flight instructor at the Frankfort, Indiana Municipal Airport and established his new family when he married Kimberly. Patrick went on to instruct at the Speedway Airport in Indianapolis, Indiana, and he and Kimberly welcomed their first son, Thomas, in 1991. Patrick and Kimberly then moved their young family to eastern Michigan where Patrick provided flight instruction at the Linden, Michigan Airport and at Baker College in Flint, Michigan. Patrick excelled at and loved instructing, yet he yearned to be an airline pilot. He advanced through cargo and charter piloting positions with Flint Air, Ameristar, and Comair Jet Express, relocating his family to Covington, Kentucky and welcoming second son, Joseph in 1997. Patrick was thrilled to get his break with the airlines when he joined United Airlines in 1998, relocating his family to northwest Indiana. While there, Patrick and his family had many wonderful days at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and enjoyed living nearer their extended family and making many lifelong friends. After 9/11, Patrick volunteered, trained, and was selected to serve as Federal Flight Deck Officer – a law enforcement officer charged with defending the aircraft flight deck against acts of criminal violence or air piracy. Patrick found his airline home, with the culture of family, in JetBlue in 2003, and the family found a new home in Seneca Falls, New York, where they were joined by their daughters Maria in 2004 and Lucy in 2006. The Burkes hosted annual extended family vacations on the Finger Lakes and led many family hikes through the glorious countryside of upstate New York. Patrick was promoted to Captain by Jet Blue in 2006. He was a member of the Airline Pilots Association for 20 years. Patrick and Kimberly made one last family move, to Orlando, Florida in 2013. Patrick’s love of flying and his professional success were eclipsed by the love and devotion he had for his family. Nothing was more important to him than being a good dad and husband – and he was. There was no question that his family was his priority. He played an active role in home schooling his children and encouraging their interests, which included team sports, golf, martial arts, dance, baking, and dogs. Their family became a neighborhood fixture with the daily walks of their five rescue dogs. As present and focused as he was with his family, Patrick touched many others. He was generous with his time and attention to his extended family, friends, neighbors and colleagues. He always had time to share a hearty handshake, look you in the eye, and engage you in a genuine conversation. He was supremely considerate of others, always thinking about what he might be able to do to help. Patrick was honored to be the godfather of Aidan Murphy, Peter McNicholas, and Gwyn Morgan. He was the proud uncle of Wes Frye, Olivia Morrow, Matt Morrow, Aidan Murphy, Mimi Murphy, and Matt Jones. Patrick took seriously his responsibility as a role model to his children, godchildren, nieces, and nephews. Yet he always kept them smiling with his wry sense of humor. And they knew they could count on him for anything if they needed help. For the past two years, Patrick courageously battled small cell lung cancer and then, more recently, leptomeningeal disease. He was so touched by the continued outpouring of love and support from so many people. He cherished the time he was able to spend with family and friends. Although he did not want to leave us, he took comfort that he would at long last be reunited in heaven with his own father. Patrick is survived by his wife Kimberly, children, Thomas (Sophia ), Joseph, Maria and Lucy, granddaughter Cecilia, and all his godchildren, nieces and nephews, as well as his mother, Judith Burke, sisters Anne (Ed) Frye, Kathryn (Rob) Morrow, and Margaret (Jim) Murphy, mother-in-law Grace Werline, brother-in-law Kevin (Holly) Werline, uncle Richard Meister, aunt Joan Meister, and cousins Chris (Connie Fleischer) Meister, Erica Meister (Barrett) Carlson, and Jonathon (Kerri Garvey) Meister. Patrick’s family wishes to thank his medical team at AdventHealth Cancer Institute, including Mark Socinski, MD, Charles Hodge, MD, Jill Carvara, BSN/RN/OCN, and Gena Brennan, APRN, and AdventHealth Hospice for the care provided to Patrick and his family. A funeral mass will be held at the Historic Chapel at All Souls Catholic Church, 800 South Oak Avenue, Sanford, FL 32771 on Friday, December 29, 2023, at 11 am, followed by interment at All Souls Catholic Cemetery, corner of 25th St. & Hardy Avenue, Sanford, FL 32771 and a Celebration of Life reception immediately thereafter (details forthcoming). A eulogy will be given at the Chapel at 10:45 am prior to the funeral. In lieu of flowers, Patrick’s family requests that memorial donations be considered for JMJ Pregnancy Center (www.jmjpc.org) or Pathways to Care, a Healthcare Ministry of Catholic Charities of Central Florida that helps the vulnerable homeless population (www.pathwaystocare.org). The family would appreciate offerings for mass intentions for the repose of Patrick’s soul at St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Catholic Church in Orlando, All Souls Catholic Church in Sanford, or at the Catholic church of your choice. Funeral arrangements are being handled by DeGusipe Funeral Home in Sanford, FL. Any pilots or Jetblue crew members attending the funeral are asked to wear their uniforms.