“He was a teacher first and embodied the Christian Brothers. He was the very best of La Salle.”
—ANDREW GUZMAN, CURRENT DOCTORAL STUDENT
If a life well-lived is measured in the number of people we touch, then the reach of Brother Joseph Burke, F.S.C., Ph.D., ’68, spanned the farthest corners of the world. From a student with a calling to a mentor with purpose, the man who stood as La Salle’s 27th president lived to inspire.
“One million.” Those were the words that Br. Joe uttered in his final days. “I’ve loved one million people. And one million people loved me back.”
As a graduate of La Salle College High School, Br. Joe began his life of faith and service by joining the Christian Brothers at 18. After graduating from La Salle College in 1968, he embarked on an impressive academic and professional career that never swayed from his values and spoke as a true testament to who he was—a mischievous but kind man of many talents, known for his complex simplicity.
Br. Joe was known for his warm smile and infectious kindness.
Perhaps the most notable way Br. Joe touched those around him was through teaching. Br. Joe’s sister, Beth, re- called teaching as one of his earliest ambitions. “I would… listen under his bedroom door where I could hear him teaching his imaginary students,” she said.
From academic support to mentoring, Br. Joe’s commitment to helping students has left countless lasting impressions. One of his students, Sarah Ziegler, referred to Br. Joe as one of her biggest supporters and best friends who, “reminded me just how far you can go when someone believes in you. I can never thank him enough for that.”
Another beloved student, Andrew Guzman, said when he thinks of Br. Joe, he envisions the many young minds that he inspired and influenced. “He encouraged all of us to aim a little higher and reach a little further,” Guzman said. “He was a teacher first and embodied the Christian Brothers. He was the very best of La Salle.”
Br. Joe’s passion inside the classroom was rivaled only by his remarkable zest for life. Friends and family frequently recall his dry sense of humor, talent as a gourmet cook, and an enduring love for
martinis, travel, opera, and The Simpsons. From hypnosis to poetry, his gifts were as impressive as they were surprising. With a desk drawer full of candy and an unshakeable faith in Christ, Br. Joe’s greatest talent of all may have been his ability to do it all with apparent ease.
Three former La Salle presidents convene: (from left to right) Brother Daniel Burke, F.S.C, Br. Joe Burke, F.S.C., and Brother Patrick Ellis, F.S.C.
“Magic” is the word that Brother Gerry Molyneaux, F.S.C., ’58, used to describe his colleague an longtime friend. “[Br.] Joe made everything look effortless,” he said. “Behind the scenes, he put an enormous amount of work into planning. But when it came time to showcase, he was just a natural.”
For many, a true calling can take a lifetime to discover, let alone fulfill. But Br. Joe rose to the challenge at every occasion. “He is the ultimate La Salle Explorer,” John J. Rooney ’46, added of Br. Joe. “And as we are well aware, Explorers are never lost.”
Friend and colleague, David Falcone, associate professor of psychology, reminded us that even in his passing, Br. Joe’s role as a teacher isn’t complete. “There is one more lesson for us to learn,” Falcone said. “I came to realize that it is easier to imagine the end of the world than it is to imagine a world without Br. Joseph Burke.”
Echoing his final words spoken to Br. Gerry, “live Jesus in our hearts,” Br. Joe’s spirit undoubtedly lives on, memorialized in the hearts, laughter, and many stories of those he inspired.
“For those of us who are believers, our relationship with God can be a source of personal meaning and a valuable context for discovering meaning in relationships, work, and family, or community. Human beings have the capacity to accept limitations, suffering, the death of loved ones, and even the prospect of our own imminent death and say, “Now what will I do with
my life?” Put another way, within the context of a faith commitment, “Given the awful thing that is happening to me, and knowing that God has not abandoned me, what unique mission or goal can I fulfill that will bring beauty, knowledge, or good to the world?”
Excerpt from Br. Joe Burke’s article, “Change, Humor and Heroism” published for the Christian Brothers Spirituality Series