Looking Back, Giving Forward—the SHU Connection
Some of the best years of Lee Burke's life were spent walking the Seton Hall campus as a student, employee, parent and loyal alumnus.
Lee graduated and left Seton Hall in 1962 to pursue employment in the corporate world and fulfill a military obligation. He did this by joining the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve during the Cuban Missile Crisis. During that time, he encountered many Seton Hall alumni who also were serving their country.
In 1970, Lee returned to the University for some career guidance that, surprisingly, led him to work at his alma mater as Director of Grants and Research and then Director of Corporate, Foundation and Government Relations. During his 16-year tenure as a valued and trusted employee, Lee earned a master's in education and supervision with a concentration in higher education and became a Certified Fund Raising Executive. He left Seton Hall again in 1986 with a strong appreciation for the personal and professional development opportunities he received and a new career path.
As Lee looks back on his career, he notes, “Every full-time employment opportunity I have had over a 40-year career has been a result of a Seton Hall ‘connection' except one. These connections have continued into my retirement years of volunteer service and advocacy with fellow alumni and former colleagues, friends, and family.”
In 2017, in recognition of his fond allegiance to Seton Hall, Lee and his wife, Arlene, revised their estate plans by adding a codicil to their wills with a special bequest to Seton Hall to establish a scholarship in memory of his parents, Stanley C. and Elizabeth M. Burke.
At a Glance: Bequests
- Charitable bequests are made by naming Seton Hall as a beneficiary in your will or living trust. This type of gift does not affect your cash flow.
- Your assets remain in your control during your lifetime. You can modify your gift at any time should circumstances change.
- You can direct your gift to the area of Seton Hall's mission that is most meaningful to you.
- We can provide you with model bequest language and will work with you on the details.