Windsor lost a passionate advocate for those living with mental illness with the passing of Doctor Brian Burke last Thursday.
He passed away on July 6 at the age of 64.
There are not many areas in mental health where Burke didn't leave his mark. His obituary on Families First's website lists his many roles, including as staff psychiatrist all both Windsor Regional and Hotel Dieu Grace Healthcare, the ACT psychiatrist for the Essex ACT team, director of the Dual Diagnosis Clinic, Post Grad Director-Psychiatry at Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Program Medical Director of Mental Health and Addictions at Hotel Dieu Grace Healthcare.
He only recently stepped back from his outpatient practice, where he helped thousands of people address and learn to live with their mental health challenges. Many posted tributes on the Families First website in his honour.
Burke grew up on Pierre Avenue and Tourangeau Road. As a child, he attended Our Lady of Lourdes and LA Desmarais, Tilbury District High School in his teens and then the University of Toronto, where he graduated medical school in 1984. He returned to Windsors after completing his psychiatry residency in 1990.
Despite a hectic professional schedule, he understood the importance of outside interests. A saxophone player, he performed Bebop Jazz as a member of the Brian Burke Quartet.
Burke relished the discovery of new restaurants, travel, playing chess and reading. He sometimes shared memories of these experiences with his patients, including a trip to England where he discovered Doctor Who.
Beloved by his wife Winnifred of 35 years and their children Peter, Brigid, Charles, and Joseph, who remember his laugh, compassion, creativity, curiosity, and connection to his community.
Visitations at Families First on Dougall Avenue are on Thursday, July 13, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The memorial service is at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, July 14, with interment to follow. There will be a live stream of the service online.
Donations in his memory can be made to Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare Foundation, Mental Health Programs.