Gloucester - Stephen J. Burke, of Gloucester, passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 7, 2026, at Oceanside Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Rockport. He was the loving husband of Linda R. (Philbrook) Burke, his high school sweetheart, whom he spent 64 years with (57 years married).

Steve was born in Gloucester, MA on February 9, 1947, and was son of the late Raymond and Eunice (Gamradt) Burke.

Steve grew up on Portuguese Hill and still lived there in his family home until his passing. His house has been in his family since 1898. Steve attended Gloucester High School and became an Auto Body Repairman. After working at Chubby's Auto Body for many years, he started his own business, Burke Brothers Auto Body with his brother, Jerry, and they had a very successful business for many years until his retirement. Then, Steve became a "Snowbird" and spent winters with his wife and special friends Skip and Sherry Vicari, Jan and Kim Collins, and Steve and Cathy Doe in Hudson, Florida.

In his earlier years, Steve played the guitar alongside his wife, who sang in the band The New Horizons. He also coached little league baseball and girls' softball. Later, he and his wife Linda enjoyed traveling all over the world with The Coffee Shop Gang making a lifetime of beautiful memories.

Steve was an avid golfer and a former member of Bass Rocks Golf club and, later, a member of Cape Ann Golf Course in Essex, where he proudly shot a hole-in-one. Other hobbies were riding his motorcycle and making his family's locally famous linguica along with his grandfather, his uncle Jack Gamradt, his brother Jerry, and his daughter Dawn, using an old family recipe that came from Pico, Azores.

Steve was a lifetime member of the Gloucester Elks, the DES Club, and a past president of the Gloucester Fraternity Club.

Steve will be greatly missed by all who knew him. He was a hard worker his whole life, focusing on taking care of his family and being a great friend to all. He was known for his kindness, his spirit of adventure, and his sense of humor. Steve made the world a better place. His philosophy was to "Leave things a little better than you found them", which he always did. We will love and miss you forever, Steve.

Steve is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Linda; his daughter, Dawn and spouse Julie; his brother, Jerry Burke and sister-in-law Pam; his sister, Lauri Burke; his brother-in-law, Kim Philbrook and wife Rorie; his sister-in-law, Ruthanne Fitzgerald and her husband Chris, as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins, including a very special cousin, Almy Parsons, who was like an angel to Linda and Steve throughout his illness. He also had a special grand-dog, Chase.

He was predeceased by his parents, Raymond and Eunice and his brother-in-law, Chipper Philbrook.

In keeping with his wishes, there will be no services.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at The DES Club on Prospect Street in Gloucester from 3:00-6:30pm.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Steve's name to The Massachusetts Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. Checks should be made payable and mailed to the Memory Disorder Fund, MGH Development Office, 125 Nashua Street Suite 540, Boston MA 02114 or donate online to www.madrc.org.

Arrangements are by Greely Funeral Home, 212 Washington Street, Gloucester MA 01930. For online condolences, please visit www.greelyfuneralhome.com.