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[edit] Julia Burke

Julia Burke was a young woman of substance. She played soccer, she was on the swim team, in Girls Scouts, played the flute through Burton Elementary and Stanely Middle School bands then continued in private lessons. She was competitive figure skater for five years and she was an altar server at St. Monica Catholic Church for the last six years. As a junior at The College Preparatory School she was a nationally prominent debater, did photography for the yearbook, was the coxswain for the Oakland Strokes men's crew team with an undefeated season and a southwest US championship, and she made many friends. She felt strongly about advocating organ donation and said, "Mom, it's a no-brainer! When someone has something they don't need, and it could save someone's little girl of father, why would they not give that gift?". Julia passed away on October 30th, 1998 after a car accident on October 27th and donated her organs so that she could give the gifts of life and sight to others.

Marilyn Burke is Julia's mother, and I hope that she, or Julia's friends might create her page the way it should be.

[edit] What others have to say about her

Julia was upbeat, respectful, and inquisitive. She was one of the brightest students that I have seen come through Stanley M.S. (formerly Stanley Intermediate). I've taught there part time since 1982 and full time since 1986, so that's a lot of students!

The flute section in band was very competitive. Julia competed very well and was always in the top part of the section, and she sometimes was first chair. Then an interesting thing happened- the atmosphere became ugly. I had hoped that the members of the band would compete in a friendly manner, but the flute players started saying mean things about each other and they just weren't being respectful with one another. One day, Julia said, "I just want to make music. I'm going to sit last chair". Julia (as an 8th grader) was truly interested in making music. She left a top position in the flute section to sit at the end of fifteen flutists. At a young age, she realized that music is collaboration, not competition. Don't get me wrong, when it counted in other areas of education and sports, Julia was able to compete with the best of them and knew the value of competition. --Bob Athayde (bathayde)

[edit] Photos