Kenneth James Burke, age 64, of Longwood passed away at 11:27pm, Saturday, November 19, 2022 in the comfort of his own home.
Ken was born Monday, June 16, 1958 in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Thomas Kenneth Burke and Barbra Ann (Adamson) Burke. His childhood years were spent living in McLean, Virginia and then he moved to Bradenton, Florida where he attended high school. Ken is a proud member of the Manatee High School Hall of Fame. He was a member of the 1977 basketball team that went undefeated in the regular season. Ken graduated from the “Harvard of the South,” Florida State University, while also working for Southwestern knocking on doors selling student handbooks. Ken married the love of his life, Mary Pat Bailey on Saturday, October 15, 1983.
Ken was an active parishioner of Annunciation Catholic Church. He proudly spent his entire professional career as a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch during which he was regarded as one of the top Financial Advisor in the nation. He was proud to serve his clients and the colleagues and friends he worked alongside with at Merrill Lynch which were very dear to him. Ken enjoyed golfing, traveling, working out, and watching sports (especially the Seminoles), reading about the markets, but most of all, spending time with Mary Pat, his children, and grandchildren.
Ken was a strong and loving man whose faith in God guided him through every aspect of his life.
Ken is survived by his wife of thirty-nine years, Mary Pat; his children Kelly (Danny) Carrico, Garrett (Amanda) Burke, Meghan (Jeff) Walter, Brendan (Victoria) Burke, and John-Patrick; his grandchildren Dominic, Kyle, Brayden, Nolan, London, Raegan, Arden, Bailey, and Grace; his siblings Patti Leibach, Tom (Belinda) Burke, Virginia (Don) Taylor, Katie (Greg) Morrison, and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, Ken and Barbara Burke, Ken was preceded in death by his father and mother-in-law, Patrick and Patricia Bailey whom he admired deeply.
A viewing will be held on Sunday, November 27, 2022 from 5pm-7pm at DeGusipe Funeral Home in Maitland. A funeral mass will be held at Annunciation Catholic Church with Bishop Stephen D. Parkes on Monday, November 28, 2022.