Dedication of The Burke Family Center

September 22, 2022, was a momentous day for St. Sebastian's School. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, the West Campus Center, completed in 2018 as part of the Spirit & People Campaign, was officially dedicated and will forever more be known as the Burke Family Center.

The naming of the facility recognizes Headmaster Burke’s visionary leadership and serves as an enduring tribute to the Burke Family and their extraordinary impact on St. Sebastian’s. This special dedication was fittingly part of a celebration to mark the conclusion of the Spirit & People Campaign, which transformed our school by blessing us not only with this magnificent new structure for athletics, performing arts and administrative offices, but also led to a significant increase to our endowment.

The festivities began in the afternoon with the unveiling of the Burke Family Center signage over the entrance and two beautiful plaques installed in Martin Hall—one honoring the Burke Family and the other with the verse, 1 John 4:19—“We love, because He first loved us”—along with quotes from Headmaster Burke. The plaques were revealed by Bill and Patty Burke following a blessing from Fr. John Arens.

As the Burkes entered the competition gym for the schoolwide dedication of the Burke Family Center, they were greeted with a thunderous ovation from the entire student body, along with faculty, staff and trustees. Fr. John Arens gave a prayer and blessing, and Student Council President Connor Dumouchel ’23 spoke on behalf of the student body. Assistant Headmaster Michael Nerbonne, trustee Jim Mooney P’18 and Dean of Students Brendan Sullivan each shared heartfelt remarks to honor Bill, Patty and their family. A picture of the immediate Burke Family, surrounded by a matte signed by every student, was then presented to Bill and Patty. Finally, both Bill and Patty took the podium to share their love of and gratitude for St. Sebastian’s, emphasizing that the word “Family” in the name of the facility represents the entire school community.

I am so honored to be speaking on behalf of the student body in order to honor you and the Burke Family. I can almost guarantee every person here has a story on how you’ve enhanced their Sebs experience, including me… Mr. Burke, you are one of the most compassionate men I’ve ever met, and you are the reason Sebs is run as well as it is.”

—Connor Dumouchel ’23, Student Council President

Family is the Center of our dedication of this complex as we ask Your Blessing this day and always. You, Lord, have given us all to be formers of Family present and future. You have brought us together to express our appreciation of the Burke Family and their example of devotion. We humbly ask Your Blessing upon the interplay of Families, and the generosity of Love in the embrace of enduring relationship.

—Fr. John Arens

Seb’s is a goodness factory. I’ve said to Mr. Burke so many times, “I just didn’t know a school could do that.” I remain in awe of what it did for our son, and, honestly, I don’t think that awe will ever fade. I am so proud to serve this school. I am so blessed to call Mr. Burke my friend. I am so happy that the Burke family is honored with this space. There is no name more deserving to be on this building.”

—James F. Mooney III P’18, Trustee

For me, that indelible mark is one of a strong moral leader, a problem solver, a role model, a mentor, and especially as a friend… Bill and Patty, thank you both for your devotion, your service, and the love which you have shared with our community.

—Brendan Sullivan, Dean of Students

That evening, campaign and leadership donors, along with trustees and members of the Burke Family, gathered for the main event to celebrate the incredible impact of the Spirit & People Campaign and the dedication of the Burke Family Center. Guests arrived through Martin Hall, taking in the new plaques before making their way to the competition gym for a cocktail reception. Fr. Arens’ opening prayer was followed by a speech from recent alumnus, Andrew Hahm ’22, a freshman at Amherst College, who spoke about his experience as an Arrow and the many positive ways the Burke Family has touched his life. In addressing the crowd, Assistant Headmaster Michael Nerbonne shared his thoughts on the befitting naming of the Burke Family Center. Campaign co-chair Bill O’Malley P’09,’10,’13 gave a celebratory speech highlighting his Campaign Co-Chair and dear friend, Jack Connors, the investment made by the school community, and the opportunity to honor the Burkes.

The celebration continued as the more than 300 attendees moved to the Wrestling Room for dinner. After Board President Jim Elcock ’77, P’08 welcomed the guests, a video about the Spirit & People Campaign was shown, highlighting the success of the Burke Family Center facility and how its spaces aided in continuing in-person learning during the pandemic. Campaign Co-Chair Jack Connors GP’20,’23,’24,’24,’26 and John Harrington GP’16,’21,’25, Chairman of the Yawkey Foundation, gave touching speeches and a second video was shown that specifically honored Headmaster Burke and his family, which included his five youngest grandchildren.

Clearly overwhelmed by the kind words shared throughout the day’s festivities, Bill and Patty each took the podium to share their heartfelt appreciation and love for the St. Sebastian’s community and their family. Headmaster Burke shared, “Patty, I love you, and I’m so proud to have my name with yours on this building. Will, Dan, Matt, and Sam: We love you with all our hearts and are so very proud of, happy for, and grateful to you. We came here as a package deal 32 years ago. You were 13, 11, 8, and 4. The original six. Now in my 33rd year, I delight in the truth that I have never been here without a son. Our first 14 years, Patty and I were current parents. When Dan joined our faculty in 2002, Sam ’04 was a junior, Matt joined our faculty a few years ago. Will’s son, Liam, is a senior here, and our other grandsons, Jackson, Dillon, Mackey, Owen, and Sean have their hearts set on becoming Arrows. God, family, job. Where does one end and the other begin?”

During her powerful speech, Patty proclaimed, “Every committee member, every donor, every visionary, every worker, every supporter, known and unknown, labored and served to do the next right thing for love of God, family, St. Sebastian’s School, and future generations and created the West Campus Center and expanded endowment…Think of all that has already happened here, all the kids who have had new chances and opportunities to come face to face with themselves and each other, and all those that will come through and the zillions of experiences yet to be. YOU made this happen and then you extend yourselves to honor Bill, beloved son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, St. Sebastian’s headmaster, and great friend of and to so many by naming this building after him.”

Both Bill and Patty received a standing ovation following their remarks. Fittingly, Fr. Michael Drea brought the evening’s celebration to a close with a prayer of gratitude. It was a bright day for our school that will be remembered in the annals of St. Sebastian’s.

When Bill Burke, a 39-year old English teacher and coach, was chosen as Head of School here at St. Sebastian’s in 1990, no one dared dream of the transformation he designed and led. It was a good school when he got here, and it is a great school today—competitive at every level in the ISL. When you arrive on this campus, you see the first-class buildings, fields, and classrooms. It’s what you don’t see that makes this place so special. It’s the spirit of this place. Love God. Work Hard. And Take Good Care of One Another. I cannot think of anyone who is a greater example of these values than our friend, the man we honor this evening: Bill Burke.”

—John M. Connors GP’20,’23,’24,’24,’26 Spirit & People Campaign Co-Chair

Not only do we close out the Campaign tonight, but we close it out in style, honoring Bill and Patty and their wonderful family—and how fitting that we honor the Burke family as their fingerprints are all over this place, literally! Did the Burkes make the campus more beautiful? Yes. Is the Science, Math & Library Center amazing? Yes. Did they emphasize writing and speaking skills? They did. Is the academic rigor incredible? Indeed. Is the faculty bright, engaged, committed and tireless? They sure are. Is the Burke Family Center absolutely beautiful? It certainly is. The Burke Family has been instrumental in all of the above. But their biggest contribution, in my mind, has been to the culture of the School—love God, love one another, love thy neighbor, love our differences, love unconditionally, love, love, love. Lots of love around this place and it all begins with the Burke Family!

— William A. O'Malley P'09,'10,'13, Spirit & People Campaign Co-Chair

When our Board and so many of our generous donors and supporters wished to honor Bill with a monument fitting for his decades of generous service and leadership of our beloved School, they chose this spectacular edifice... When Bill learned of this plan, he responded in the only way he knows: not for me, but for my family. What a fitting tribute from Bill to Patty and to Will, Dan, Matt and Sam and their families. But Bill’s gesture, I would suggest, goes much deeper and broader. By including all of us as extended family members in their expansive, even exponential love which I referenced earlier, Bill and Patty are in a way placing all of our names on this beautiful space.

— Assistant Headmaster Michael Nerbonne

All of us here tonight are familiar with or know persons who are great leaders within our communities, our workplace, and nationally or on a worldwide scale— and I believe none of us here have ever witnessed a reception so full of respect and warmth and love as Bill and Patty received here this evening.

—John Harrington GP’16,’21,’25

We bring this evening’s celebration to a close with hearts overflowing with gratitude. Our gratitude is so rightly directed, firstly, to You for the countless blessings that You have lovingly bestowed on St. Sebastian’s School for 81 years. Our gratitude for the abundant generosity of so many that has made this night possible is simply not able to be captured in mere words but spoken from our hearts with sincere love. Our gratitude for those who assumed a posture of determined and dedicated leadership throughout the Spirit & People Campaign can never be adequately expressed, but know that we stand before them holding each in high esteem. Our gratitude for the Burke Family: honored this night in the naming of the Burke Family Center. Bless Bill and Patty and their family, Father, who each day guide us all to grow closer to You by living out the mission of St. Sebastian’s School.”

—Rev. Michael Drea