David Burke, 67, nationally honored wrestling coach

  David J. Burke Jr., 67, of Broomall, longtime head coach of the Lower Merion High School wrestling team, died Monday, Sept. 15, of complications from diabetes at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Burke coached the wrestling team for 31 years ending in 2010. He logged 278 career wins and was inducted into the Southeastern Pennsylvania Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2012. In 1991, he was named national high school coach of the year for his wrestling achievements.

"Mr. Burke was an extraordinary man and a memorable and beloved teacher and coach," said Douglas Young, spokesman for the Lower Merion School District. "He was funny, brilliant, caring and courageous. He leaves an indelible, positive mark on our community, and his legacy will live on for generations."

Born in Upper Darby, Mr. Burke graduated from Interboro High School in 1965. While there he earned five letters in various sports - two each in football and wrestling, and one in track.

He went on to attend Cheyney College, where he wrestled from 1966 through 1968.

After a transfer, he graduated from West Chester State College in 1969, with a bachelor of science degree in education. He did postgraduate study in history at West Chester, and then went on to teach in the Lower Merion School District for 36 years ending in 2006.

He taught at the former Ardmore Junior High School, now gone, from 1970 to 1979, and at Lower Merion High School from 1979 to 2006. His niche was ninth-grade world culture.

"He kept teaching because he loved it," said his son, David Sean Burke.

He ran the high school's football scoreboard for more than 20 years and also coached the girls' softball team for eight years starting in 1979.

Mr. Burke was diagnosed with diabetes at age 21. In 1991, he was among the first patients to undergo a kidney-pancreas transplant at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

In 1997, he had a double kidney transplant at HUP, and in 2001 he underwent a liver resection. In 2011, Mr. Burke's leg was amputated below the knee due to the effects of diabetes. "HUP took very good care of him," his son said.

In spite of his medical condition, he kept up with coaching and teaching, juggling work with dialysis sessions when his transplants failed. "I don't know how he did it," his son said. "He wouldn't have made it to 67 if he didn't have that fight in him."

Mr. Burke was a member of St. Pius X Church in Broomall.

In his spare time, he enjoyed being an HO-scale railroad hobbyist, specializing in the Pennsylvania Railroad. "He loved collecting. Anything he decided to do, he was passionate about," his son said.

Surviving, besides his son, are his mother, Mary O'Donnell Burke; and a brother, John J. Burke.

Mr. Burke was married to Betty Burke. They divorced.

A viewing from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21, in the Frank C. Videon Funeral Home, 2001 Sproul Rd., Broomall, will be followed by a 10 a.m. Funeral Mass Monday, Sept. 22, at St. Pius X Church, 220 Lawrence Rd., Broomall. Burial is in SS. Peter and Paul Cemetery.

Donations may be made to Lower Merion Wrestling, 315 E. Montgomery Ave., Ardmore, Pa., 19003, or Lower Merion Township Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 346, Ardmore, Pa. 19003.