Jerry was born December 31, 1939 to retired Cincinnati Fire Lieutenant James Lawrence and Marjorie A. (Bacciocco) Burke. He attended Roger Bacon High School, graduating in June 1957.
Three months later, Jerry joined the United States Navy on September 8, 1957, as war was heating up in Vietnam. He trained at the Great Lakes Training Center and as an Airman Apprentice was assigned to Fleet Aircraft Service 
Squadron-5 at the Oceana Naval Air Base. On August 15, 1959, as an Aviation Storekeeper Airman (AKAN), he shipped out on the Forestall-class Aircraft Carrier, U.S.S. Saratoga (CVA-60) to Italy, France, Greece, Turkey, and Spain until February 26, 1960. She returned to the Mediterranean Sea on August 22, 1960 to Spain, Italy, France and Greece. Midway through that cruise, AKAN Burke was honorably discharged on December 18, 1960.
During August 1961 he worked for Ed Michtoms in Charlottesville, Virginia as a salesclerk. He came to Cincinnati and began work at WCPO as an accounting clerk during August 1962. He clerked at W. E. Hutton & Company in January 1963, then at the National Lead Company in May 1963.
On March 23, 1964, Jerry joined the Cincinnati Police Division as a Police Recruit. On June 28, 1964, he was promoted to Patrolman, issued Badge 144, and assigned to District 2 (314 Broadway). A year later, he was rotated to District 7 (813 Beecher Street). After nine years, Officer Burke transferred to Police Personnel/Recruiting. A year later, he transferred to District 3 (3201 Warsaw Avenue) where he excelled as a Crime Prevention Officer. Police Officer Burke retired July 1, 1989 with 28 years of service to his country and community and 45 letters of appreciation and/or commendation, including four from police chiefs and one from Hamilton County Sheriff Lincoln Stokes.
Police Officer Burke died on April 3, 2022 at the age of 82. He is survived by his children, Jennifer Vogt, Julie (Gerald) Lopata, and William Burke; grandchildren, Kyle (Patty) Vogt and Zachary Burke; and siblings, retired Cincinnati Police Captain Thomas (Delores) Burke, Michael (Charlene) Burke, David (Donna) Burke, Timothy (Marty) Burke, and Sue Ann (William) Pitts.
A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on April 29, 2022 at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Groesbeck.
Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
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