Obituary of Kenyon Clinton Burke

Dr. Kenyon C. Burke, son of the late Kenyon Tucker Burke and Parthenia Clinton Burke, was born September 25, 1930, in Cincinnati, Ohio. 

He attended public schools in Cleveland, Ohio and graduated from Glenville High School, received his Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology from Bowling Green State University, Master of Science in Psychology (MS) from Columbia University and Doctorate in Education (EdD) from Rutgers University.

When he returned home, after his tour of duty with the United States Air Force stationed in Geneva, NY, he was united in holy matrimony to Dorothy Jean McIntyre on October 10, 1953.  This union was blessed with two sons. They maintained a residence in Maplewood, NJ for 49 years and were active members of St. George’s Episcopal Church and the South Mountain YMCA.

He was a true and passionate servant and traveled the world as a civil rights and social justice advocate. He held executive positions with the Urban League of Essex County (NJ), Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith, Planned Parenthood, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and National Council of Churches. In 1972 Kenyon was initiated into the Mu Boulé chapter of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, Inc., where he held numerous leadership positions.

Kenyon was a jazz aficionado.  Duke Ellington and Billie Holiday were his favorites. He cherished his expansive collection of LP’s and 78’s. He could cite the musician, bandleader, sidemen, vocalist, record label, recording location and date just by listening to a few musical notes or lyrics.

In May of 2016, with the desire to be closer to their grandson, Dorothy and Kenyon relocated to Ashburn, Virginia.  Sadly, Dorothy passed away on June 4, 2017.

Kenyon is survived by, two sons; Gregory Paul Burke (Solange) and Steven Alan Burke (Robin), grandson Clinton Reaves Burke, his family in-love Merwyn, Barbara and Teri Reaves along with a host of family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to:

Loudoun Freedom Center

c/o KCB Memorial Scholarship Fund

19309 Winmeade Drive, #307

Lansdowne, Virginia 20176

PayPal: @LoudounFreedomCenter

Make checks payable to: Loudoun Freedom Center

Memo: KCB Memorial Scholarship Fund

Loudoun Freedom Center is a 501c3 non-profit organization.  All donations are tax-deductible