Kathleen Burke

courtesy of sister Pat Burke

September 3, 1946-May 4, 2000

On Labor Day in Chicago, September 3, 1946, Helen Burke “labored” and gave birth to a beautiful little girl she would name Kathleen Carol Burke. The family then included her sister, Pat and her father Robert Burke. They all lived in a brownstone apartment on the South Side of Chicago across from a school playground, where Helen often took Pat and Kathy to enjoy the sandbox and swings.

When Kathy was three years old, the family moved to Kansas City and a short time after the move, her brother Bob was born. Now a family of five, Pat, Kathy and Bob lived and went to school there until Kathy was 14.

Kathy was, as you can see, the middle child, which isn‘t always easy. Sometimes youre “not old enough“ to be with Pat’s friends, and you’re “much too old“ to go along with Bobby’s friends. Kathy always attributed her independent nature and her think-it-through-for-yourself attitude in part, to being the middle child. She was very much her own person and encouraged to be so by her mother.

Kathy attributed her value system, her love of family, her feeling for the community and her love of people in general to the strength and love she received from her own mother and father. She also believed that growing up in a Midwest, semi-rural environment, and being a regular participant in Trinity Lutheran Church’s youth program helped strengthen those values. Best loved during her pre-teen and early teen years were the field trips she participated in through Trinity and her participation in the Church choir.

In 1961 she moved to California with her Mother, Grandmother and Brother. Her sister Pat remained behind for a while to pursue her career in marketing. Kathy completed her education in California and started her career. Her last six career years were spent at Contempo Design, an exhibit building company where she was the very efficient, highly respected and much loved Office Manager.

Her daughter, Kristen, came into her life in 1970. From the beginning, it was clear that there was a very special bond between the two. Kathy carefully guided and nurtured this lovely young child and she became the incredibly talented, independent thinking, successful person we all know today.

Kathy had many talents. She was a writer. She loved to write children’s stories. She was an artist. She painted a number of children’s paintings and even branched out and did a sunset for her sister that hangs in her home. She did ceramics. She was a good speaker and had the unique ability to establish a rapport with virtually anyone. And she was the best friend anyone could have.

Community Service was an integral part of Kathy’s life. She always felt strongly that she needed to give back what she had received. Since 1975 she was involved with the Entertainment Division of the Santa Clara County Fair, which later evolved into Youth Focus. She consistently worked on programs to help support the Bill Wilson Center, which provides shelter, counseling, and education for runaways, homeless youth, and their families and City Team Ministries, who work to assist the poor and disadvantaged, helping them to become self-sufficient. And since 1994 she was a telephone counselor with Santa Clara County’s Contact Cares, a 24 hour crisis hotline.

Her other love was her extended family – which always seemed to be growing and changing. Their home on Woodhams Road started out as a small house, just right for three or four. Today, with its second story addition that was originally her Mom’s apartment, it is now home to her daughter Kristen, her husband Dean and his son Cody, while her sister Pat and her brother Bob live below.

She loved spending time with her family in any number of ways. There were frequent family camping trips to the redwoods at Henry Cowell State Park, or to Yosemite where they had a particular cabin they went back to time and again. She loved the ocean and the family often took a house at Pajaro Dunes for a week or so every year. Or they would head down the coast to Santa Cruz or Monterey for the day.

Kathy loved life and everything about it. If there was something you were interested in, she was interested in it, too. She never stopped learning. There was always something new to discover, even through her battle with Cancer. She shared her discoveries with others through various Cancer bulletin boards.

Kathy was unique. She was special. She will be missed.

Kathy passed away in May of 2000 after a long bout with cancer. Kathy loved her experiences at Cupertino, and went on in later years to become Spirit Advisor when her daughter, Kristen, was a cheerleader at Cupertino. Kristen continues to receive information about her class.