‘Larger than life’ Bill passes away in New York
The recent death occurred in New York of Tubbercurry native Bill Burke. Bill was a larger than life figure of the Irish in New York, but a man who never forgot his Tubbercurry roots. Over the last 50 years he was the banker of many Irish born people in New York.
Born in 1942 in Tubbercurry, he attended the local boy’s school on the Masshill Road and got his Secondary education in St. Nathy’s College, Ballaghaderreen.
One of 11 children of parents Martin & Mary Kate, at 18 years of age he hit for New York as some of his brothers and sisters had already moved there in previous years.
The West of Ireland in those years was suffering hugely from emigration and Bill went to New York in search of adventure and employment.
He often told the story of a chance meeting in a Chinese Laundry a few days after his arrival in New York that set him on his career in the world of banking.
He met a young executive of the Bank of America Richard Chu who was working over the weekend in his parents laundry, and after Bill said he was prepared to take any job, he had an interview on Monday and the rest in history.
Bill attended night school in New York to get his banking qualifications and quickly moved up the ladder in the Bank of America initially and later joined the Franklin Na- tional Bank.
In 1975 he was recruited by Barclays Bank as senior vice-president. At this stage in his career Bill had developed a wide network of Irish in New York and was able to help thousands of Irish and Irish Americans with loans for houses and commercial investments. This common touch with the ordinary people was not lost on the top bankers.
Bank of Ireland had a number of small branches in and around New York, but in 1977 they decided to open a larger branch on 5 th Avenue Manhattan, and they got Bill Burke to head up this operation.
Bill thrived in this position and became one of the most influential Irish Americans of his generation in New York.
In 1988 he was honoured by being asked to be Grand Marshal of the New York St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and honour many regard as the highest that can be bestowed on an Irish American.
Later that year Bill came home on holidays to Tubbercurry and the Tubbercurry Chamber of Commerce & Community Association honoured him with a civic reception, a parade from his home place in Rathscanlon to the Square and made a presentation to him of a set of Sligo History books.
Never a man to sit on his laurals, Bill moved to the American Country Bank for new challenges where he became President of the Bank and continued to work with them until his retirement.
Bill always kept in touch with the Irish Community in New York and with his home town and old friends of Tubbercurry. His unexpected death at age 76 is a huge loss to the Irish community in New York as well as to his wider family in New York and Co. Sligo. His funeral took place on June 15 last in New Rochelle, New York.
Bill is survived by his wife Aileen, children Bill, Elizabeth, Michele, Robert, Ross & Riley & grandchildren as well as brothers Mattie, Martin, Colm, sisters Winnie, Bridie, Mary and Ann. Bill was predeceased by his first wife Kathleen and his brothers Gerry, Brendan & Joe.
Bill was a role model for many to follow. Sympathy is extended to his wider family from all his old friends and acquaintances in Tubbercurry. May he rest in Peace.