COURTESY OF MARLENE BOURKE

David Bourke was an indefatigable volunteer.

click for photo by David Nicholson

David Bourke was an architect with a social conscience who, for 14 years, was secretary-general of McGill University, twice served as interim director of Montreal's McCord Museum, and was a member of the Dawson College board of directors.

In addition to the long list of his official titles Bourke was an indefatigable volunteer whose influence in the community was far-reaching.

Bourke died May 31 two weeks after he was hit by a car at the corner of Stanley and Sherbrooke Sts. walking home from a black-tie meeting of the Twenty Club, a debating society that had held its last meeting of the season at the University Club. It had been raining that night and Bourke had been offered a ride home, but chose to walk.

At his funeral on June 3 McGill University principal Bernard Shapiro remembered Bourke as the "ultimate gentleman," polite in a way that only deep respect for others could produce.

"He valued individuality, but he understood the prior importance of community as the only context in which any of us could be our best selves," Shapiro said. "He was clever without being arrogant. He was open-minded without being empty-headed. He was accomplished without being self-centred, and he was good humoured without being silly. He was infinitely caring without being mawkish or sentimental."

Richard David Bourke was born in Montreal Oct. 22, 1931. His father was president of Sun Life, and David grew up in Westmount where he attended Westmount High School. He enrolled at McGill and in 1954 obtained his degree in architecture. He went on to Harvard for his master's degree. He married Judith Veith in 1955 and they had two children, a son and a daughter.

Bourke's first job was in Toronto, but after one year he returned to Montreal and joined the firm that was to become Doboush, Stewart, Bourke, Longpré, Marchand, and Godreau. It is perhaps best known for the design of the McLennan Library on the McGill campus, the Christmas Park school in Beaconsfield, and Berri UQAM métro station.

"Typically outspoken, highly ethical, always critical but unfailingly constructive, he did much to raise the standards of design and construction on campus," said David Covo, director of the McGill School of Architecture.

Bourke left his architectural practice in 1972 to become executive assistant to McGill's principal. Ten years later he was appointed secretary-general of the university, a position he held until 1995

His contributions to the university are exhaustive: among his numerous activities he served as director of development and communications, director of university relations, president of the faculty club, and as director of the Redpath Museum.

In the early 1990s, as head of the McCord Museum's board of directors, Bourke guided the museum's $30-million expansion.

"He was amazing, he was a tireless volunteer who was involved in everything, everywhere. He lived his life fully in the public sphere," McCord executive director Victoria Dickenson, told The Gazette. "We had incredible affection for him, even when we were frustrated with him. He just threw himself into things, he had all these sides to him."

Bourke's first wife died of cancer in 1979 and he shortly afterward he became involved in starting Montreal's palliative care council.

"I think he was the one of the happiest people I have ever known," Kappy Flanders, a member of the university board of governors and council co-founder, told The Gazette. "He went places, did things, did everything he wanted to do. I don't know where he found time for it all. He loved life."

After the death of his wife he married Marlene Greenberg Foch in 1982, and was stepfather to her two sons.

In 1996 he served McGill as acting vice-principal of development and alumni relations for one year before he retired.

Five years ago Bourke was instrumental in the move of the decorative arts museum from Château Dufresne to the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.

He was heavily involved with the Fraser-Hickson Library, and a consultant at the Old Brewery Mission. He was an avid skier who belonged to the Redbirds Ski Club and designed and built their clubhouse. He curled and he sailed.

He was also chairman of the board of St. Andrew's Dominion Douglas Church, and sang in the church choir.

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Obituary of David Bourke