Gerard Robert "Gerry" Burke

Gerry was born in Brooklyn, New York to Jeanette and James Burke. The family moved to Forest Hills, Queens where he attended St. John's University until he joined and proudly served in the U.S. Marines. Gerry had a successful career in the paper manufacturing industry for Hammermill Paper/International Paper in New York City. He was General Sales Manager for the Eastern Division of the United States, and President of the New York Paper Club. He is survived by his former wife, Joan Burke of Towson, MD, and their 3 daughters, Claudia and Armen Manoogian of McLean, VA, Pamela and Thomas O'Neil of Owings Mills, MD, Kerry and Steve Kahn of Rockville Centre, New York. Loving grandfather to 9 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. Gerry is also survived by step children Margaret Ann Ault of Laguna Beach, CA, Mary Boyle of Sidney, NY, Geraldine Gross of Thousand Oaks, CA, Jim McCarthy of Bayside, NY, Jeanne Boyle of Huntington Beach, CA and Eileen Shoemaker of Salem, NJ. He was also a loving grandfather of 7 step grandchildren and 3 great step grandchildren. He was preceded in death by young grandson Christopher O'Neil and special step daughter Betsy Gross. He is survived by his loving wife Peggy. As senior newlyweds, they retired and left New York and moved to Sarasota in 1990. Happy memories when family and dear friends came to test the Florida waters and see how life was down south. Gerry pursued his passions: oil painting and a new technique ""Chinese Painting”, golf, gardening, ceramics, volunteering at Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Florida Historical Society and Selby Gardens. He was a dedicated member of The Secular Franiscan Order. Gerry enjoyed a great life journey with Peggy as they traveled the U. S., and they cruised the seas. Gerry will be remembered as a kind and gentle person, the ultimate gentleman at all times, a devoted loving husband and father who loved God, his family and his country. He will be missed immensely and will be forever in our hearts. A Mass of Christian burial will be held on July 24th at 11am at the Epiphany Cathedral. A graveside service will be held at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. The family asks in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: The Christopher O’Neil Memorial Fund â„... The Baltimore Community Foundation 2 E. Read St. Baltimore, MD 21202. Farley Funeral Home in Venice is handling the arrangements. Service Information Date: Thursday, July 24, 2014 Time: 11:00 am Epiphany Cathedral Catholic Church Address: 350 Tampa Ave. W., , Venice, FL, 34285 | Map Cemetery Information Arlington National Cemetery Address: , , Arlington, VA, | Map