Those We Lost

Brendan Burke

1988-2010

Brendan Burke, the youngest son of Brian Burke, general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs and the U.S. Olympic ice hockey team, died in a car crash in Indiana February 5. He was 21. He was driving along with 18-year-old Mark Reedy when heavy snow caused their Jeep Cherokee to slide into the oncoming path of a Ford truck. Both young men were killed in the accident.

Burke was a hockey player and student manager for the Miami of Ohio team who had planned to go to law school. In 2007, he came out as gay to his family and later publicly in an ESPN article. His father was supportive and marched with him in a 2009 Gay Pride Parade. “He was a courageous kid, a gregarious kid, a compassionate kid,” Brian Burke told reporters about his son. “He was very bright and cared a lot about people…he was born with a lot of lucky signs around him. He was just a magnetic personality, a wonderful kid. I feel fortunate I had him for 21 years.”

 

Thomas Hayes

1925-2010

Thomas J. Hayes, a prominent Irish American in the San Francisco community, the founder of the San Francisco Irish Cultural Center, and the father of Fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White, died January 24 after an extended illness, thirteen days after his 85th birthday. Born in Ballingarry, Co. Limerick, one of 14 children, Hayes immigrated to America in 1949. After working on a farm for a short time, he settled in San Francisco and became an apprentice plasterer. In 1958, he opened his own business, Tom Hayes Plastering Co., and also went into real estate. He became involved in politics, served on numerous boards and committees, and was appointed to the BART Board of Directors in 1974 by San Francisco Mayor Joseph Alioto. Hayes was also an athlete and was inducted into the San Francisco GAA Hall of Fame in 2008. His daughter Joanne, who was one of Irish America’s Top 100 in 2006, told reporters, “He always said, ‘Death is part of life and we all will have our day.’” Hayes is survived by his wife Patricia, his son Dan, three daughters, Geralyn, Patricia and Joanne, and seven grandchildren.

 

Daniel Kerrigan

1940-2010

Daniel Kerrigan, the father of figure skater Nancy Kerrigan, died January 24 after a violent altercation with his son Mark. He was 70. Authorities have ruled the death a homicide, but Kerrigan’s family has disputed that claim. Autopsy results determined the cause of death as cardiac dysrhythmia. Mourners gathered at a funeral Mass at St. Patrick’s Church in Stoneham, Mass. on January 27. Jim Day, a family friend, said in a eulogy, “If we had more people like Danny Kerrigan in the world, there would be peace and love everywhere.” He was a U.S. Army veteran. Nancy did not speak at the funeral, but called her father her “support” in a released statement, adding, “He was there behind me always.” Kerrigan is survived by his wife Brenda, his children Mark, Michael and Nancy, and numerous grandchildren, siblings, nieces and nephews.

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Nster.com