On Christmas night, Gilman Sessions Burke passed away peacefully, with the same gentleness and gentility with which he lived his life.
In the days and hours before, he had connected with his extensive family and friends. Those who loved him most had a chance to tell him their fond memories, to share stories and songs, and to embrace him one last time. He had filled nearly 93 years with love and kindness and his timing was, as usual, impeccable.
Gil’s long life had many chapters. He was born the son of Jim and Margaret Burke on March 14, 1932, in Summit, New Jersey. He grew up surrounded by a wonderful circle of close cousins and friends and with his beloved younger sister, Kate. He often spoke of his adventurous boyhood memories, roaming the green summer hills and watching the trains pass through the small town of Oxford, New York. He graduated from the Pingry School and then Hamilton College before serving in the U.S. Marine Corps.
After he was discharged, Gil married his first wife, Sarah “Sal” (Cooke) and attended Harvard Law School. The young family returned to New York, where he joined Burke & Burke, the law firm founded by his grandfather. As a lawyer, he was known for his calmness and courtesy and for a willingness to support the career of women lawyers, at a point when corporate law was still a boys’ club. In 1974, Gil became a member of the Century Association, which Mark Twain once called “the most unspeakably respectable club in New York.”
A proud and passionate resident of the Upper West Side, Gil was one of the founding parents of the West Side Montessori School. He and Sal and other families became a closely-knit group of friends known as the “West Side Mafia.” As a dad, Gil is remembered for ice hockey on frozen lakes, biking around Central Park, fishing, sailing and canoeing, and bedtime stories.
When Gil arrived in Garrison in the 1970s, he enlarged his circle of friends and began a commitment to the environment and the preservation of the Hudson Valley that continued for the rest of his life. He was an early supporter of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), a founder of Constitution Marsh Sanctuary, Riverkeeper, Hudson Highlands Land Trust and Open Space Institute, with his dear friend, John Adams. He also served as a trustee of Hamilton College and Boscobel House and Gardens.
After the death of his first wife, Sal, in 2006, Gil began spending more of his time in Garrison. It was then that he began a life with Sarah Bayne. The two were married and Gil became a part of her vivacious family. He was effortlessly and lovingly involved in every inch of their lives, becoming a north star of care and compassion for nearly 20 years.
In Garrison, Gil was a fixture and a pillar of that small and active community. He enjoyed restoring several properties in the area, particularly the transformation of a red barn that was his most treasured project. Most afternoons, he could be found on the links, playing tennis, racing around in his precious golf cart or mowing the fields with his prized tractor. In later years, though he was known to complain that his children had moved to the far reaches of the country — Alaska, California and Florida — Gil was a welcome visitor and beloved grandfather. His commitment and devotion to everyone in his life was unquestioned and unparalleled. To know Gil, was to have Gil care for you, a blessing that many cherished.
He is most immediately survived by his wife, Sarah, and by his children, Molly and Dana Burke. Gil is preceded in death by his youngest son, Nathaniel.
He is also survived by Sarah’s sons, Nick and Peter Bayne, Nick’s wife, Sunshine Bayne, and his beloved grandchildren (in order of age): Rosa, James, Bruno, Marina and Raymond. He also leaves behind his dear sister, Kate, and her children, Jay, Burke and Eliza, and countless friends and extended family too numerous to mention. He was a great father-in-law to Michael Valan and Marisol Zequiera.
The family thanks Hudson Valley Hospital for their care and attention in his final years and his last days with us.
A service in celebration of his life will take place on Saturday, the 15th of February, at St. Philip’s Church in Garrison at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Open Space Institute (1370 Broadway, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10018, or openspaceinstitute.org).
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Clinton Funeral Home, Cold Spring
I an extremely sad to read of Gil’s death. I knew him well when he was married to Sal. They often visited my home and we were very politically involved. Sal’s illness and death was traumatic. I am happy he found such a loving new wife. Gil was truly a wonderful human being.
So sad to read of Gil’s passing. Sunny and I enjoyed his friendship for all of the 46 years that we lived across his homes on Route 9D in Garrison. We know that all who knew him were so fortunate to have experienced his integrity, compassion and generosity. Sadly, we lost touch after moving to Boulder, Colorado, six years ago. Most fond and sincere condolences to the Burke family.