The Tim Burke Way
By Kenny Burke '93
I went by DeSales the other day
And as I walked along Tim Burke Way
I strolled across the lawn,
Thought about friends long gone,
And wondered what made this man want to stay?
Was it because of all the proms and dances
Or maybe selling all those raffles and chances
The prayers at school Masses,
Or teaching Ghostbuster classes?
It could have been perhaps the retreats at Mt. St. Francis.
I basically grew up in this building as a tyke,
Kicking, hitting balls off the gym wall and the like.
Getting to share all our summers
Would never be a bummer
'Cause I rode shotgun and yelled at players like David Pike.
Do you remember the penalty kick in the Trinity game?
Joe McCauley was the goalkeeper's name.
As you dropped to a knee,
We all said a Hail Mary,
And every PK I see to this day, I still do the same.
But DeSales is not one of the average places.
It thrives because of all of the faces
Both dead and alive
Over on Kenwood Drive
The people have made it a south end Oasis.
Like Johnson, Cahill, Medley and Finn
Father Mike, Rex, Brother Vince or Kyrin
Mark Sander and Don Hettich
Harold Joyce or Ron Madrick
All were special like Barney, Burns, Mac and Brother Tim.
Students always tell me, "He's the best teacher I ever had.
He was always there for me when things got bad."
When I see alumni these days,
The first thing they always say:
"Hey Kenny, how's your dad?"
More than the walls, rooms, buildings or posts,
More than the honors, accolades, or even this roast
I know what you'll miss
When you're through with all this
It will be the people that you'll miss most.
But I am not sure that you realize
The difference made in so many lives.
You taught the young men
Bout faith, brotherhood and tradition,
And for that you deserve the Nobel Prize.
It's the Way that you listen in times of need
It's the Way that you tell stories, indeed
It's the Way you teach
It's the way you coach
That has made countless young men succeed.
I decided that Tim Burke Way is not a street.
It is not even a destination that can be reached.
You taught these men YOUR way,
And that is why today
That "The" Tim Burke Way, is the way we should teach. |
 Timothy F. Burke
('08 Hon.) has retired from the faculty of DeSales
High School after 37 years of teaching, coaching, and
mentoring. Coach Burke, who is a favorite among
countless students and alumni, taught a number of history and
social studies courses over the years and coached soccer and
tennis. He was known especially for his Pop Culture
class and "Ghostbusters" Immersion trips.
Coach Burke was a
mainstay on Senior Christian Awakening retreats, where his
gift for connecting with DeSales students had an undeniably
positive impact on the retreat experience. In 2008,
Burke was formally made an honorary graduate of DeSales High
School, and the school driveway was named in his honor.
Coach Burke's son, Kenny, attended DeSales and is a 1993
graduate. In honor of his dad, Kenny wrote a poem for
the retirement reception in the limerick style, patterned
after the many limericks Burke composed over the years for pep
rallies and other occasions (see right).
The following is the bio piece written for Tim upon his
receiving the honorary DeSales alumnus status in 2008.
Born in 1948, Tim attended St. Benedict and St. Helen before starting his high
school career at Bishop David. Due to financial constraints, Tim
transferred to Butler as a senior, where he graduated in 1966.
 After
a stint with the Naval Reserve and a few years working, Tim matriculated at
Spalding University, graduating magna cum laude in 1975 with a major in
Psychology and minor in Biology. Prior to his formal graduation, Tim
applied for a teaching job at every Catholic boys school in the city. The first
to call him for an interview was Fr. Tom Batsis from DeSales.
DeSales was looking for someone to teach Psychology and Biology, but also to
coach tennis and soccer. Tennis was not a problem for Tim, but at that
time he had never even seen a soccer game.
Thus began a long career for Tim as a teacher and coach at DeSales. Over
the years he taught Psychology & Biology, U.S. History, World History, Current
Events, Religion, Reading, America’s Wars, and Pop Culture. And that
soccer issue? Tim fielded some of the best teams in the city and was named
Soccer Coach of the Year in 1982 by the Kentuckiana Soccer Coaches Association.
His success as a tennis coach was evidenced by the five Regional Tennis
Championships he helped bring to DeSales in ’97, ’98, ’99, ’03, and ‘04.
Tim’s dedication and commitment to his students also gained recognition. He
received the Yearbook Dedication in 1978, 1982, 1993, and 2011. In 1996, he
received the Professional Educators Award, and in 2005 he received the CEF’s
Ulmer Award for his work in the classroom. Tim might also hold the
unofficial distinction as the teacher most visited by returning alumni.
And his impact on the spiritual growth of students in the Senior Retreat program
over the last 33 years cannot be measured.
Tim’s selection as an Honorary Alumnus is a reflection of the integral role he
has played as a member of the faculty since 1975 at DeSales. He joins a body of
over 5,500 men, including his son, Kenny ‘93, who represent the Faith,
Brotherhood and Tradition instilled by a DeSales education. Through his love of
DeSales, the thousands of lives he’s touched, and the exemplary role model he
has been, DeSales High School is honored to call Tim one of its own.
2008 Hall of Honors Awards Dinner. Pictured left to right:
Joshua Blandford, Tim Burke '08 Hon., Steve James '82, Doug Strothman.
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