1926 – 2015
Words of Remembrance for Brother Daniel Burke, FSC
Given by Brother Michael McGinniss, FSC
November 18, 2015
Mass of Christian Burial
La Salle University Chapel, Philadelphia, PA
The passage from Luke’s Gospel just proclaimed is very familiar – most for its connection with the Easter season because it tells the story of one of the classic post-Resurrection appearances of Jesus. I believe it fits the occasion tonight – the Mass of Resurrection for Brother Daniel Burke – because the situation of the characters in the story parallels ours tonight after the passing of this kind and gentle Christian Brother. The disciples in route to Emmaus talked while they walked, about the life and death of Jesus of Nazareth in whom they had placed much hope. While we may not have been walking together toward Emmaus, recollections of Brother Daniel have filled our thoughts and conversations these last days.
Dan has given us a lot to talk about. Many have recalled his breathtaking accomplishments – which include:
* a long, faithful life as a Christian Brother, including terms as a community Director and delegate to a General Chapter;
* a scholarly career in Literary Criticism complemented by an active life as a poet (an example of his poetry graces tonight’s worship aid);
* seven years as La Salle’s president during the challenging late 60’s and early 70’s – a tenure marked by Dan’s commitment to academic excellence and professionalism, qualities which helped give birth to the Honors Program and which continue to distinguish La Salle to this day;
* a teaching career bookending his years as President;
* a passion for art nourished in childhood visits to Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Museum that led to the establishment of La Salle’s art collection and later its museum, of which Dan served as long-time Director;
* and in his final years a graceful entry into retirement in the company of fellow Christian Brothers at Ammendale and at Lincroft where he met illness and decline just as he had lived.
Yes, Dan gave us much to talk about. But we have been remembering and talking about much more than what this gentle man did, though he did a lot. We have been speaking much more often about personal qualities that seemed synonymous with the man.
One Brother remarked at lunch this week that his own blood brother had Dan as a high school teacher at West Catholic in Dan’s first years as a teacher. That former student remembered Dan always addressing his students as “gentlemen” – in one word both complimenting and challenging them to live up to the compliment. Others had similar memories – of Dan’s kindness, gentleness, and high standards. Brother Emery Mollenhauer, Dan’s friend and colleague for 71 years, recalled that his passion for academic and organizational excellence lifted La Salle to the much desired “next level.”
When the ‘70’s demanded it, Dan responded to the high call of prophetic witness at the White House. He possessed and displayed resources of courage and conviction that his quiet demeanor concealed. He risked a lot in that protest, bore much criticism, but gained admiration, especially from his students, for taking a brave stand.
But Dan was not all accomplishment and seriousness. He could speak self-deprecatingly about his soft voice, always encouraging students to “sit close” – proximity made more necessary when he taught spring classes in the original Benilde Hall, his soft voice over-accompanied by the constant roar of lawn mowers. He was known for short, potentially enigmatic comments: an “oh” could carry a variety of meanings, depending on the context.
Students recalled his balance, so often reflected in beginning an answer to classroom questions with “yes and no.” After at least two “Yes and No’s” from Dan, a fellow student in my Literary Criticism section, exasperated perhaps, asked Dan if he could rephrase – he did, “Well, no and yes.”
The story of the disciples going to Emmaus does not stop at reminiscence about a great man. The Lucan disciples lost their way and their meaning in their sadness at the horrible death that Jesus endured. A third person joins them, mysteriously and with his true identity concealed. The stranger listens, enters into their story, weathers their surprise at his not knowing of the “terrible things” that had happened in Jerusalem. Then the stranger begins to explain the real meaning of their story, by reminding them of all the Scripture had said that applied to Jesus. And finally, with their breaking of bread at the table, insight dawned. Then the disciples “got” it, about the meaning of Jesus’ life, and their responsibility to go back and become witnesses to new life to those in Jerusalem and metaphorically to the world.
In the same way our own remembering of Dan does not stop with his passing. We have come here tonight, to this chapel and this altar – where Dan himself worshipped many times. We come to break the bread of our memories of Dan – memories of gratitude and love for him – and to allow the breaking of the bread of the Word and the Eucharist to transform our stories and our lives, so that we, like the Lucan disciples, might once again become witnesses to new life, to risen life.
Perhaps better than anyone, Dan Burke understood how entering into story – in poetry, fiction, art and Gospel can transform a person. For sure, such immersion into the written word and painting, and into the great Lasallian story transformed Dan. And in the way of the disciples in the Emmaus story, Dan helped pass on that same kind of immersion and transformation for his students when he broke open the texts of poems and short stories that he asked us to read. He made it possible for us to experience a similar dawning of insight in the presence of great art by building up La Salle’s collections and museum. Through things of beauty and through the beauty of his own example, Dan opened for us new perspectives on life that would lead into new and transformed life.
May we leave this assembly tonight full of gratitude that God gave us Brother Daniel Burke to touch our hearts, and so to transform our lives. And may Brother Daniel Burke rest forever in peace, with our founder and patron, John Baptist De La Salle, and all the Lasallian saints.
Please pray for the happy repose of the soul of Brother Daniel Burke, FSC
Born Daniel William Burke in Pittsburgh, PA, on October 25, 1926
Entered the Ammendale, MD, Juniorate on June 12, 1941, and Novitiate on June 6, 1944
Received the Religious Habit and Name, Brother Fidelian of Mary, on September 7, 1944
Pronounced Perpetual Vows in Ocean City, NJ in 1951
Br. Daniel died at De La Salle Hall, Lincroft, NJ, on November 14, 2015
FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS:
Tuesday, November 17, 2015
Viewing from 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
De La Salle Hall
810 Newman Springs Road
Lincroft, NJ 07738-1608
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Viewing in the De La Salle Chapel from 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Mass of Christian Burial at 5:00 pm
La Salle University
1900 West Olney Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19141-1199
Reception to follow in Brothers’ residence
Friday, November 20, 2015
Burial in the Brothers’ cemetery at 11:30 am
La Salle Hall
6001 Ammendale Road
Beltsville, MD 20705-1202
Luncheon to follow
SUFFRAGES FOR OUR DECEASED BROTHER DANIEL:
District: 100 masses
De La Salle Hall community: 30 masses
Each community in the District: 1 mass
Brother Daniel died peacefully in the early evening after several days in palliative care. May he rest in peace.
ASSIGNMENTS:
1945-1949
scholasticate
Washington, D.C.
De La Salle College
1949-1951
teacher
Philadelphia, PA
West Catholic Boys High School
1951-1952
faculty
Ammendale, MD
Juniorate
1952-1957
faculty
Washington, D.C.
De La Salle College
1957-1977
instructor, assistant professor, professor
Philadelphia, PA
La Salle College
1960-1969
academic vice-president
Philadelphia, PA
La Salle College
1969-1977
president
Philadelphia, PA
La Salle College
1977-1978
sabbatical
Moraga, CA
St. Mary’s College
1978-2010
art gallery director; professor
Philadelphia, PA
La Salle University
2010-2014
retired
Beltsville, MD
La Salle Hall
2014-2015
resident
Lincroft, NJ
De La Salle Hall
Brother Daniel(Fidelian of Mary) taught English at De La Salle College while I attended DLS. He was such a great and incisive teacher that his teaching methods and content stayed with me and provided much success in my corporate endeavors.