Jeff Burke ’69 and Irene Burke: Gratitude for an Outstanding Catholic Education

Jeff Burke was not offered admission when he first applied to Saint Anselm in the spring of 1965. A native of Danvers and a proud, hardworking senior at Bishop Fenwick High School, Jeff was not accustomed to taking no for an answer. He negotiated with the dean’s office and pledged to make the dean’s list every single semester. He was eventually admitted, and he excelled on the Hilltop.

His Saint Anselm College formation led to an exceptional career in insurance, with AIG, The Hartford, and, ultimately, Fred C. Church, Inc. He met Irene on a blind date, and they have been married for over 35 years. Jeff has been an outstanding alumni leader, organizing reunions and fundraising campaigns for the Class of 1969 and helping to lead and guide the Center for Ethics in Society. He has served as chair of the college’s Alumni Scholarship Golf Tournament and as a longtime member of the Corporate Partners program committee.

Jeff’s deep gratitude for his outstanding Catholic education and moral foundation and his dedication to hard work have led him to give back generously, both currently and in his and Irene’s estate planning. They have included both schools with significant bequests in their revocable trust and have established an endowed scholarship fund at Saint Anselm that will support students coming to the Hilltop from Bishop Fenwick who demonstrate excellent character, drive, and motivation. Generations of future Anselmians will benefit from his example and his gratitude in action.

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