February 9, 1949 – July 26, 2019
It is with profound sorrow that the family of Michael Burke-Gaffney announces his death on July 26th at the Dr. Bob Kemp Hospice. Michael died holding the hand of his greatest love, best friend and wife of 47 years, Jan. Michael said goodbye to his four children, so proud of the wonderful young adults they have become, who were devoted to him during his illness over the last two years. He leaves behind his deeply cherished children Joseph and wife Lynne, Andrew and wife Bree, youngest son Jesse, and his daughter and golfing partner, Emily. He is survived by and was reunited in great joy with his brother Brian and family of Nagasaki. He is predeceased by his parents, Beth (Sparling) and John Burke-Gaffney and by his beloved younger brother, Tim Burke-Gaffney, and dearest niece, Leah MacAdam. He leaves behind his beloved nieces and nephews. Mike worked for over 30 years as a journalist and editor for the Catholic Register, as Managing Editor at the Toronto Sun and Post Media newspapers. He loved his job and earned the respect and admiration of his colleagues. He also gave to the community as a president of the Hamilton Association for Community Living and as an assistant to his son, Jesse at the Good Shepherd Food Bank. His greatest love next to his family was his golf game. An excellent golfer, he loved to play and enjoyed his Sunday games with the guys. As a parent he was a model for us all. Two of his proudest days were the celebrations of Joe and Andrew on their wedding days to the two beautiful young women who joined our family in this past year. His devotion to his two youngest, Jesse and Emily was unbound. He endured the long commutes to work in Toronto over many years so his children could be included in their neighbourhood schools at the Hamilton Catholic School Board, a choice he never regretted. It is difficult to find the words to thank our dearest friends and family who have supported us with love and kindnesses through these last years. We are so much more because of you. Our gratitude goes out to Dr. Kapoor, Liz and everyone at the Urology and Renal Institute at St. Joseph’s Hospital , to the Juravinski Cancer Centre, to St. Joseph’s and St. Elizabeth’s Home Care, and to the LINH Palliative Care team. We are grateful to have had Michael at home up to the last few days of his life thanks to these supports. Michael spent his last days at the Dr. Bob Kemp Hospice, a place of peace and kindness and we are deeply appreciative of the support and sensitivity shown the family by everyone there. In spite of the toll taken on him by his illness, Michael remained steadfast in his courage, humour and love for life and everyone dear to him to the end. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Cancer Assistance Program of Hamilton would be greatly appreciated. A funeral mass will be held on Thursday, August 1st at 11 a.m. at St. Augustine’s Roman Catholic Church, 58 Sydenham St, Dundas, Ontario.
Heartfelt condolences to the Burke-Gaffney family over the loss of Michael. He was such a kind person, who always made time for you, even if he was rushed or busy. He truly was a pillar of our newsroom. What I remember most was just chatting with him, his wonderful laugh, and sharing such beautiful stories of his family. A true champion, a real hero.
Dear Jan,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Take care,
Janis and Reva
Toronto Family Network
Our profound sympathies to you Jan and your family. Michael was an amazing husband, father. May he rest in peace.
Such a great guy
We will truly miss him
Our prayers are with you Jan during this time
Yael , Michaela & John
Our hearts go out to your family. We send our deepest sincere condolences. Michael was a wonderful family man and father. We will always remember his smile and gentle nature. We send hugs to Jesse and Emily from the UK.
Michael Burke-Gaffney
Michael has been an integral, active, dynamic member of my family for so long that he really was my brother. He and Jannie hosted and created so many of the best and funniest occasions we all spent together. A very intelligent man, a hard worker in his career and in his community, lots of fun, creative – especially at writing and photography, great golfer, he made his family the center of his life. A master turkey carver (no matter which room he was actually sitting in), could BBQ like no one else in the rain and snow, and know more about what was going on in the world (all the time) and be watching a golf tournament on the television, all in the same afternoon. Mike laughed and played and helped and cared for our folks! Generous with his love and time. I would arrive from far away, at probably often an inopportune time, and Michael always made me feel welcome. He made me feel comfortable. This sounds like a small thing but it actually is a very big thing.
My kind, gentle, smiling friend and brother I will miss you so!
My son, when two years old, dubbed him “THE Michael”- Kids know.
My thoughts and prayers are with you Jan and family in this sad time with the loss
of Michael.
So sorry for your loss, Jan, of your partner in life, in parenting and in the exemplary work you both did in the community.
Dear Members of the Family of Michael Burke-Gaffney:
My family and I are deeply saddened to hear of your loss. Mike was a brave and pioneering man; in November 1986 he launched the column “Disabled Today” in the Toronto Sun, a regular column authored by my Aunt, Mona Winberg. This was the first column in any major newspaper in Canada dedicated to issues affecting persons with disabilities.
He has truly made a difference, and you have much to be proud of.
Mike Burke-Gaffney “MBG”, as he was affectionately known in the Toronto Sun newsroom, was one of our pillars. He not only had a great news and design sense when laying out our flagship paper, the Sunday Sun, but he was calm, kind and honest, a mentor to me and many others. I am so sorry to hear of his passing, but happy that he had a good life and a good end to his life, surrounded by those he loved and who loved him. He was a role model for what a good journalist, and a good man, should be. My condolences to his loving family and many friends.
After the tears have dried and the goodbyes have been said, what we have to hold onto are the happy memories that we’ve shared with our loved ones who have passed, this is what keeps them alive in our hearts and in our minds, and they will continue to live on, through us.
I am truly sorry for your loss…
Jan, we are so sorry to hear that Michael has died.
Our son Matthew and Andrew were good friends in their youth.
We are neighbours on Robinhood Drive, and have known you and your family for many years.
We send you our most sincere sympathy and you are in our thoughts and prayers.
With love from
Anne-Louise and John Watts
Dear Jan and family,
Our deepest condolences and prayers for you and your family.
Bill and Mary Margaret Mahoney
Dear Jan,
My sincere condolences to all the family over your loss. Know that you are cared about at this time . You were both such champions in the work that you did to support vulnerable people.
Blessings to the family, Peace, Gillian Chernets
Dear Jan and family,
We are thinking of you during this difficult time.
Pat Thede and family
When it comes to Toronto Sun players who I will never forget, Mike is near the top of that list. And the list is long. Mike was always the calm within the daily storm of the newspaper game. A good one all around.
Dear Jan, Joe, Andrew, Jesse and Emily, my deepest condolences in the heartachingly sad loss of Mike; partner, dad, mentor, supporter, friend and more. I am glad to have had this unpretentious beautiful man weaving in and out tfoughout my entire life. He will continue to be cherished.
Much love.
Theresa
I have returned from summer vacation to the most horrible news. For too many years than I can count, Mike was my editor and my mentor at the Sunday Sun. He was a true gentleman and a joy to work for. I regret that I never got a chance to tell him how grateful I am for all the wonderful opportunities he gave me and the inspiration he provided that made my time under his leadership some of the most creative of my career. My heartfelt condolences to all who loved him.
It was a sad day to learn of Mike Burke-Gaffney’s passing, and I am grateful for having worked with him for many years at The Toronto Sun. As the Editor, he routinely came to the Composing Room where I worked, to oversee the creation and layout of Page One. He was an experienced and well-respected Editor who had an eye for perfection, and who had a good smile and kind words. I’m sure I can speak for every one in the Composing Room of the many good memories we have of him, and that we are so very sorry for your loss.
Nancy Stewart
Composing Room, Toronto Sun