William Bourke

Bill was the son of William and Mary, Irish immigrants. He grew up on Ferguson Avenue on the West Side of Buffalo and was raised on perseverance and quiet strength. He carried these values throughout his life, always showing up for those he loved.

The love of his life was Tish ( née Cullen), whom he met on a sidewalk near Canisius College in Buffalo, NY in 1967. They married on a winter day in 1969.

Their life together was filled with deep conversations, shared adventures, and a passion for education. Both dedicated their careers to teaching in the Buffalo Public School System shaping young minds with care and creativity and ensuring their daughters, Elizabeth Mahoney and Celine Bourke Kuhn, embraced learning—and their homework!

Bill was a devoted caregiver to Tish as she navigated life with Multiple Sclerosis providing unwavering love and support.

An unsung hero, Bill was self-reliant and resourceful. He put himself through St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute (on a paper route- those were the days) and Canisius College. Never one to sit idle, he taught himself to ski, play piano, fly a plane, and tackle any home project—often offering unsolicited advice for those nearby.

He cherished his visits to Vero Beach, Florida, reading and doing the crossword puzzle in the sunshine and donuts and coffee by the pool. He loved boogie boarding and body surfing in the ocean.

He lived with integrity, humor, and devotion to family and friends. His was a life well-lived, full of wisdom, wit, and the occasional "I told you so."

Bill was predeceased by his parents, William and Mary Bourke; his siblings, Rose Marie Bourke, Patricia Siller, and John Bourke; and his beloved wife, Laetitia (Tish) Cullen Bourke. He leaves behind a legacy of love and kindness and is lovingly remembered by his daughters, Celine Bourke Kuhn (Christopher Kuhn) and Elizabeth Mahoney (Thomas Mahoney). His greatest joy was being a proud and adoring grandfather to Lillian and Thomas Kuhn and Claire and Esme Mahoney. He will be deeply missed by his dear friends, cherished in-laws, and beloved nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Bill’s wonderful life will be held on Wednesday, April 23rd, at 10:00 a.m. at Nativity of Our Lord Parish in Orchard Park, NY. Family and friends are invited as early as 9 AM to join in honoring his memory.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The Telling Room 225 Commercial Street Portland, Maine, 04096 supporting young writers and storytellers, or to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.