Thomas Burke loses battle with pancreatic cancer

When organizers began planning a fundraiser for Wantagh resident Thomas Burke, they never imagined it would be held just four days after his death.

Burke, known to his friends as Tommy, died after a long battle with pancreatic cancer on Oct. 4, leaving behind a wife and two children. A fundraiser that was in the works since August was held on Oct. 8 at Mulcahy’s, to help pay for his medical expenses. Unfortunately, event organizer Peter Ambrosino said, Burke took a turn for the worse in the weeks leading up to the gathering, which was attended by about 600 people and featured raffles, an auction led by John Theissen, music and dinner.

Guests celebrated the life of Burke, who lived in the Mandalay section of Wantagh and became known for using his carpentry skills to help his neighbors repair their homes in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Ambrosino, who lived two blocks from Burke, recalled how Burke was painting a family’s dining room on Thanksgiving morning 2012, so they could enjoy dinner in their home that night. “That’s one of a million stories,” Ambrosino said. “That’s the guy he was.”

Burke was born Oct. 25, 1966, one of six children. He grew up in Valley Stream. He and his wife, Denise, had two daughters, Kayla, 14, and Alyssa, 11. Charlie Burke said his brother literally married the girl next door, and they were wed for 21 years.

As a child, Burke was an altar boy at Blessed Sacrament Church. He rooted for the Jets and Mets, and was a member of the Mandalay Poker Club. Until he became ill, he worked as a union carpenter.

Charlie Burke, who was a year and a half younger, said his brother always liked working with his hands. “Enjoyed it, did it well,” he said.

Looking around Mulcahy’s last week, which was packed with people from wall to wall, Charlie said it was obvious his brother had many friends. Those in attendance included family, friends, co-workers, neighbors and members of the Mandalay Elementary School community. “It says who he was,” Charlie said. “He touched the lives of people. He was an easy person to like, an easy person to get along with.”

Charlie added that he considered his brother his best friend.

John Adduci, a friend of Burke’s for more than 30 years, said that even when Burke was undergoing treatment, he remained optimistic and never lost his sense of humor. “He was doing anything he could to hang on,” Adduci said. “Even up to his last days, the sarcasm was still coming out.”

Adduci added that Burke was a loyal friend and very generous.

Derek Minster, another friend, said he met many people who knew Burke when he was in the hospital undergoing treatment, and they all shared the same story — that Burke was always there if someone needed help.

“The guy would give you the shirt off his back,” Ambrosino said. “If there were more guys like him out there, this world would be a better place to live.”