Terence Burke Was An Awesome Human (1969 - 2024)

Self-portrait

So we lost my good friend Terence last year. One August night he just quietly died in his sleep. We were all devastated. He was only 54.

I can't say enough about how awesome Terence was, and that's both personally and professionally. I knew him a little through the music scene, then in 2007 I hired him at my workplace. He impressed the pants off everybody, was a fast learner and a superb employee. We became friends. We had many friends in common.

He was a singer. He loved music. He had an extensive vinyl collection. He lived right next door for about twelve years, and in summertime we could hear his tunes and it was most excellent, as were the CD "mix tapes" he made for Joe and I, and everyone else. He was also an artist. He went to Mass Art for a year and loved to draw.

Last night while trying to fall asleep I suddenly remembered Terence's Flickr albums. And that it was under a moniker he sometimes used. Tolerance Burke.

 

Terence always had a camera in his hand. He took literally thousands of pictures. He'd been documenting his friends and family at parties, cookouts, rock shows, karaoke, a LOT of selfies showing all his different looks through the years, and a lot more. His albums of his toys, T shirts, and the famous mix tapes are awesome. His family, especially his brother Dave and the kids, through the years, is so great. Plus his drawings.

The Flickr site is really great to look through. With these thousands of pictures, Terence really left us all a legacy. Pour one out tonight for our friend Terence Burke.

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/45106708@N00/albums/

 One of Terence's last captures: https://flic.kr/p/2q9pfS8