Donald J. Burke, age 62, of Winchester—formerly of Woburn—passed away on September 7, 2021, lovingly surrounded by his family. He was the beloved husband of Maria Arena Burke, the devoted father of Jason D. Burke of New York, NY, the dear son of Donald L. and Janet M. (Savoia) Burke of Woburn, and the brother of James E. Burke of Woburn. He is further survived by many nieces and nephews and one great-nephew.
Born and raised in Woburn, Donald attended Woburn public schools. He was a graduate of Woburn High School with the class of 1977, where he played hockey and was an all-star pitcher on the baseball team. After high school, he spent a year working for the railroad and later attended the University of Lowell. Donald then started his career as a financial analyst at Raytheon before finding a home at Textron Systems, where he spent nearly 40 years working as Program Director. He was a dedicated employee and a respected colleague.
Donald had many passions, including golfing, gardening, skiing, and Boston sports (especially the Red Sox and Patriots). He deeply enjoyed golfing with his foursome—his wife, father, and brother—and did so three times in the last week of his life. Around the house, Donald’s gardens brought him immense pleasure. He was an artist in his yard, painting his gardens in bright swarths of color with zinnias, calla lilies, gerbera daisies, and hibiscus trees. When the winter came and covered his gardens in snow, you could find Donald skiing in the mountains of Maine or in the Rockies. He taught numerous nieces and nephews to ski, which brought him pure joy because it allowed him to do what he was most passionate about: spending time with family. Above all else, Donald was a family man who would always prioritize the needs of his family above his own.
Relatives and friends are kindly invited to gather for Visiting Hours at Costello Funeral Home, 177 Washington St., Winchester, on Tuesday, Sept. 14, from 9-11AM, followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Mary’s Church, 155 Washington St., Winchester, at 11:30AM. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Winchester. Masks are required in the funeral home and in the church. In lieu of flowers, his family requests that donations in his memory be made to Donald’s favorite charity: St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital and mailed to Memorials Processing, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Pl., Memphis, TN 38105-9959. www.stjude.org.