Norfolk City Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Burke, John Edward December 14, 1941
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Virginian-Pilot  December 15 & 18, 1941
John Edward Burke, who was a member of Norfolk’s old form of City Council, and who 
founded one of the city’s largest printing houses, died yesterday afternoon at 
1:45 o’clock at his residence, 418 Pembroke avenue, after having been in gradually 
failing health for several months. He was 83 years of age.

His public-spirited undertakings perhaps will be best known to older residents of 
the city, for Mr. Burke had been in virtual retirement for more than a decade, 
though until a few years ago he maintained a supervisory interest in his business, 
the Burke & Gregory printing company, of which he was president.

At the turn of the century and for a long period after that, Mr. Burke was widely 
known in the city for his active services for the Commonwealth, despite the fact 
that he never sought public recognition or award. He was for several years a 
member of the city’s old City Council, which had a membership of 40 persons, and 
he actively supported the establishment here of the present city manager form of 
government.

City Sergeant in 90's

Mr. Burke also served as city sergeant in the 1890's, a position to which he was 
elected in one of Norfolk’s most complete political organizations that unseated 
virtually every office-holder of the so-called machine. In this position, 
according to the recollection of several elderly residents of the city, he served 
a four-year term with excellent administration that gained him considerable 
prestige and appreciation.

Mr. Burke's support of the city manager form of government was instrumental in the 
establishment of that form of political administration here today. He was one of 
those who escorted Charles E. Ashburner, the city's first city manager, to the 
city to assume office, and he assisted in drawing the city’s charter under this 
form of government.

Besides these local activities, Mr. Burke once served for a considerable period as 
national secretary of the United Typothetae of America, a master printers' 
organization. He was exceptionally diligent in attention to his business and 
steadily built it into one of the largest now serving this section of the State.

Active in Church

A devout Catholic, Mr. Burke was one of the oldest members of the Sacred Heart 
Catholic Church, and was also a member of the Holy Name Society. He gave liberally 
in both material contributions and personal services to the church, and 
consistently supported its undertakings.

Mr. Burke also was a charter member of the Knights of Columbus organization in 
Norfolk, and held the fourth degree in the society's rituals. He was a member of 
the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Royal Arcanum, the Irish-American 
Society and he was a charter member of the Virginia Club, a representative men's 
club in the city.

Widely known in the prime of his life for his public-spirited interests, Mr. Burke 
aided in a number of movements designed for the common good of the city. He served 
on the old Norfolk Board of Trade and Business Men’s Association, a forerunner of 
the present Norfolk Association of Commerce and held membership in a number of its 
committees and collateral organizations.

Resided Here 55 Years

Mr. Burke was a native of Richmond, the son of Michael T. Burke and Mrs. Catherine 
Sullivan Burke. He moved to Norfolk when he was 28 years of age, and has made his 
residence here for the past 55 years.

He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Mamie M. Burke, and five children. They are F. 
Edmund Burke, who is at present directing his father’s business, and four 
daughters, Mrs. Otto Wells, Mrs. Philip Dale Dean, Mrs. Samuel M. Subers and Mrs. 
Martin O. Cahill, all of Norfolk.

Mr. Burke also is survived by one brother, Benjamin Burke, who is treasurer of the 
Xavieran Order of the United States, and whose residence is in Baltimore, and two 
sisters, Mrs. Kate E. Davis and Mrs. John Sheey, both of Richmond. Several nieces, 
nephews and grandchildren also survive Mr. Burke.

Funeral services will be conducted tomorrow morning at 11 o’clock in Sacred Heart 
Church, and burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery. There will be a rosary service 
at the residence tonight at 9 o’clock.

$80,000 Estate
 Left by Burke

Specific Bequests to Certain Relatives; Rest Goes
 to His Widow

An estate valued at approximately $80,000, was left by John Edward Burke, founder 
of one of the largest printing houses in the city, who died Sunday afternoon after 
having been in gradually failing health for several months. He was 83 years of 
age.

The will, filed for probate yesterday in the office of William L.
 Prieur,
Jr., 
clerk of Corporation
 Court, named specific monetary bequests to Mr. Burke’s
four 
daughters, two sisters, a sister-in-law and 
two grandchildren, but
stipulated
 that 
the rest of the property of 
every kind should be given to his wife, Mrs. Mary
M. 
Burke, in fee simple.

Mrs. Burke and her son, F. Edmund Burke, were named co-executors of the estate 
without surety, and they posted a bond in Corporation Clerk's office yesterday in 
the penalty of $160,000.  The will was signed December 29, 1936.

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