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<p>Brendan Burke, son of Brian Burke, dies in a car crash
February 5, 2010 | 11:12 pm
Its impossible to know where to begin with this.</p>
<p>To say Brendan Burke was far, far too young at 21 when he died as the result of injuries he suffered in a car crash in Wayne County, Ind., on Friday?</p>
<p>That he had a passion for hockey he inherited from his father, Brian, the former general manager of the Ducks and current GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs, but he made that passion his own as the student manager of the hockey team at Miami of Ohio?</p>
<p>That he had the manners and smarts to have made a heck of a hockey executive, which he had dreamed of becoming?</p>
<p>Its impossible to sum up the life of this charming young man who inspired discussions about homosexuality in sports a few short months ago when he talked to ESPNs John Buccigross about being a gay man in a macho sport.</p>
<p>People in hockey who know Brian Burke and knew Brendan had similar reactions to his death. Sick to my stomach. Just sick. Very upsetting. So sad.</p>
<p>Brian Burke is the general manager of the U.S. mens hockey team for the Vancouver Olympics, and he had planned to march in the opening ceremony next Friday. Its too early to think about whether Brendans death will impact Brians participation in the upcoming Games, but you have to think that because its hockey-related and so much of Brendans life revolved around the sport, Brendan would have wanted him to be there.</p>
<p>The Burke familyhis father, mother, stepmother and five siblingslost a son, a brother, a friend. The hockey world lost a shining spirit.</p>
<p>– Helene Elliott</p>
<p>More in: Helene Elliott, Hockey
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<p>From the Miami Student Newspaper</p>
<p>Home > OpEd Page
Burke’s legacy continues to inspire
Nicholas Petit</p>
<p>Issue date: 2/9/10 Section: OpEd Page
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Page 1 of 1
When I woke up this morning, I sat up in bed and peered out of my frosted window. </p>
<p>Everything was caked in snow. The pristine look made me blissfully unaware that anything tragic had happened the day before. Then the shrill electronic buzz and ringing of my cell phone brought me to reality. It was 10 a.m. and I was receiving a phone call from a friend in Denver. It was 7 a.m. in Denver the thought that something had to be wrong passed through my mind. I answered to a saddened and shaky voice asking me how I was feeling after hearing the news about Brendan Burke. I was confused and had to have my friend explain to me what had happened. “Brendan died in a car accident yesterday,” she said, and my heart instantly sank in shock. The first thing that went through my mind was that I was never going to see him walking through campus or uptown and get one of his ecstatic salutations and his enormous hugs. I think that is what I will miss the most. The tragic accident is not only devastating to Brendan’s family, the Miami hockey team, the university community and his friends, but I think it is also a setback to the progress of gay culture. Brendan was a trail blazer. Stepping out of the closet at an early age, Brendan came out to a family and a father in a situation that I personally couldn’t comprehend. Brendan’s love and acceptance of his family made his coming out experience, which would be daunting to me, very easy and encouraging. Brendan was different; he had a sort of air that always emanated confidence, and he poured out kindness, empathy, concern and modesty. I’ve known Brendan for only a short snippet of both of our lives; we were introduced by mutual friends around this time last year. I remember a time we had coffee in Starbucks, and he had asked me about my coming out story. Brendan was calm and gave me the confidence not only to tell my story to him, but also to do it in a public setting in front of complete strangers. The example of Brendan and his family’s love and understanding is very encouraging to the progress that the lifestyle of homosexuality is making. Brendan had many goals for himself, for his career, and for bridging the gap between his sexuality and the rest of the world. Brendan could achieve anything. He set an example that exuded success and happiness to all those around him. Brendan’s tragic death will hopefully leave a legacy that equality is attainable even in the most unimaginable places. Brendan, you will truly be missed by myself, as well as many others. May your legacy continue to equalize the playing field, whether it is in hockey, professional sports, the job market, the debate on marriage and any other possible realm. Thank you for living by example. </p>
<p>With Hope and Sorrow,</p>
<p>NICHOLAS PETIT
<a href=“mailto:PETTITNE@MUOHIO.EDU”>PETTITNE@MUOHIO.EDU</a></p>