Leo Aloysius Burke III

Leo Aloysius Burke III, age 66, passed away peacefully, in his home, surrounded by loved ones on June 20, 2025 after a valiantly fought battle with brain cancer. Leo A. Burke  was born on March 4, 1959 to Leo A. Burke Jr. and Patricia M. Burke and resided in the Delmar-Coxsackie area of upstate NY for the majority of his life. Leo was a positive force for everyone who crossed his path and will be deeply missed. His passions included running swimming, hiking and biking. He competed in any and all races he could get himself to including the Burlington and Boston marathons, several years of the Kaaterskill Spring Rush triathlon, the Escarpment Trail run, and the Artist run. But he loved best of all his Thursday night runs with friends which turned into Monday night runs with friends when he moved to Morganton, North Carolina in 2021. Leo was always able to find his people and never left an encounter without exchanging stories. Leo graduated from Bethlehem Central High School and devoted 25 years of his life to NYS Coxsackie Corrections. With his wife of 43 years by his side, he spent most of his five years of retirement traveling to visit with friends and family. Leo was preceded by his father, Leo A. Burke Jr. and his sister Mary Francis Burke. Leo is survived by his mother, Patricia M. Burke, wife Kristin M. Burke, daughters Kellie Marie with her partner Nicholas Scannell and Katie Janette with her husband Joshua Humphries. He is also survived by sister Lizbeth with her husband Steven Nickel brothers William, Timothy and Thomas Burke as well as his several nieces, nephews and in-laws who he loved dearly. Leo will be buried at the Carolina Memorial Sanctuary in Mills River, NC near a tulip tree as a part of his plan to be given back to the Earth. A celebration of life will be held on July 2, 4-8 PM, at the Sleepy Hollow Lake Lodge in Athens, New York. All who knew and loved him are welcome. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations to be made in Leo’s honor to the Glioblastoma Research Organization at fundraise.gbmresearch.org/team/669880.

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