Bill Burke Sr. Passes Away

Press Release

The Ontario Hockey League is deepy saddened by the passing of Michael William (Bill) Burke, father of IceDogs owner/governor Bill Burke.

Passed away peacefully at home with his family by his side Saturday, May 29, 2010, in his 83rd year after a courageous and dignified battle with pancreatic cancer. Bill is survived by the love of his life Dorothy (Foster), his wife of 56 years. His three sons Michael (Jill), Bill (Denise) and Pat (Krstana), and his 8 grandsons, Michael, Billy, Joey, Jamie, Robbie, Sean, Liam and Patrick. Bill was predeceased by his two sisters, Marjorie Goodier and Joan Dodds. Bill was born in Montreal and attended Loyola College, graduated from Sir George William University (Concordia) with a Bachelor of Commerce degree. Bill had a distinguished career in advertising and sales promotions in both Montreal and Toronto. In 1968 he founded Grenville Management and Printing Ltd.

A special thank you to Dr. David Hedley and Bernie Southwood from Princess Margaret Hospital, all the staff at the Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care and Saint Elizabeth Nurses.

The family will receive friends at the HUMPHREY FUNERAL HOME – A.W. MILES CHAPEL, 1403 Bayview Avenue (south of Davisville Avenue) from 6 – 9 p.m. on Thursday, June 3.

Funeral Mass Friday, June 4 at OUR LADY OF LOURDES, 520 Sherbourne Street, at 11 o’clock.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Pancreatic Cancer Research at Princess Margaret Hospital, 610 University Avenue, Toronto, M5G 2M9, or The Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care at Mt. Sinai Hospital, 60 Murray Street, Lebovic Building, 4th Floor, Toronto, M5T 3L9. Condolences and memories may be forwarded through www.humphreymiles.com.

The Ontario Hockey League along with the entire IceDogs organization sends their thoughts and prayers to the Burke family.

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)