Tim Burke ’70 Announces Retirement

After more than four decades of service, Sacred Heart Cathedral Director of Admissions Tim Burke ’70 has announced his retirement at the end of the 2021-22 academic year. Over the course of his tenure, Burke has made a tremendous impact on the Sacred Heart Cathedral community, working tirelessly to improve the quality of the SHC educational experience and advance the mission of both the Daughters of Charity and the Christian Brothers.

Burke approaches retirement as director of admissions, a role in which he has expressed his love for and dedication to the SHC community. As director for three decades, Burke has been integral to the admissions process, selecting generations of the Bay Area’s brightest students to join the SHC student body. He began the incredibly popular Irish for a Day Program, served for six years at the Council of Catholic Schools as liaison between admissions directors, presidents, principals, and grammar schools, and he helped to grow attendance at SHC’s annual open house. To the greater community, Burke has served as the face of SHC, spreading awareness and inspiring interest in his alma mater.

In addition to his impactful work in admissions, Burke was also one of the most successful coaches in the history of the SHC Boys Basketball Program, winning back-to-back CCS Championships in 1989-90 and 1990-91; the 1996 WCAL Championship; and receiving the CCS Honor Coach of the Year distinction in 1997-98. Burke later served on the Girls Varsity Basketball coaching staff, working beside fellow SHC Athletics Hall of Famer Brian Harrigan ’76, helping to lead the team to three state championships and one national championship. Burke can also be credited for his role in establishing SHC’s Hall of Fame Baseball Academy alongside Steve Franceschi — a highly successful summer program for young student-athletes that will celebrate its 34th anniversary this year.

Supporting Burke throughout the years are his wife, Janet, a Catholic grammar school educator, and their children, Patrick ’98 and Lauren ’01. Endlessly inspired by the Christian Brothers, Daughters of Charity, his own former teachers, and colleagues, Burke shares his gratitude for the SHC community, “Coming out of high school, I always dreamed about teaching and coaching at SHC. I am honored to have fulfilled that goal of serving this incredible community. As the Admissions Director, I’ve had the opportunity to help move the school forward with great kids and families, and I hope they have found a home in SHC as I have.”