David Burley
2023 Sandra Sagear Wall of Courage Honoree
Alden David Burley passed away February 11, 2019 at the age of 67. He was born September 9. 1951 to Hugh Alden and Elizabeth (Bock) Burley.
David, Part 1 by Deb Madonna
I knew David in grade school. Our class took a field trip to David’s home. It was a beautiful property, several acres and there weren’t a lot of other houses around. It was a great place to play. It was a great day up to and including when I broke my arm. David’s mother, Elizabeth, was so kind to me and she took great care of me until it was time to go to the hospital.
I saw David in middle school but only a few times.
After high school, I always saw Elizabeth at Art in the Park and other art shows, as well as Plymouth Community Arts Council’s Art Train. David’s father, Hugh, was the artist. Hugh painted lovely little birds. Hugh shared a tent with Sharon Dillenback and was her mentor. As Hugh and Elizabeth got older, Sharon watched over them. Sharon said that David was a wonderful young man.
I always asked Elizabeth how David was doing. Proudly, she would tell me about David’s job. When I had children, we would talk about my sons. She always remembered their names.
I did meet up David years later. Bob Bilkie and I were working to add a Miracle League baseball field to Plymouth. We had visited Service Organizations to tell them about what a miracle league field was. It is a safe and accessible field is: and “Every Child Deserves a Chance to play baseball”. We met with members of the Masons and David was at that meeting. A few weeks later, we went to the Elks and David was a member of the Elks too. Both organizations made very generous donations for the Miracle League and children.
That was about the same time that Dale Sirkle met David because they were both in the Elks and Masonic Lodge in 2009
David, Part 2 by Dale Sirkle
David worked at University of Michigan with his mom.
David worked his way through the officers’ positions until he served in the top position one year as Exalted Ruler in the Plymouth Elks Lodge 1780, the head position of leadership one year. He held the offices of Steward, Tiler and Chaplain in the Plymouth Rock Masonic Lodge 47. He was a member of Moslem Shriners and Valley of Detroit Scottish Rites.
He cooked for the Fish Fries. He stayed and cleaned up at the end of events. He was handy and could fixed anything and everything. He was a strong supporter of the DARE Campaigns.
Whenever there was an event for children, he made sure every child received a gift or goody bag. David was committed to helping others. David was empathetic towards children.
David’s father passed away in 1999. His mother passed away in 2007. He had lived always with his parents. He had no relatives nearby. He had lots acquaintances at the Service Organizations.
The loss of his mother was profound. David’s mother was the center of his world. He didn’t have any relatives nearby. A friend of his mother’s, Janie Tucci, knew the loss was difficult. Janie checked in on David. She knew that Elizabeth had set up a trust for David. Janie said, “David was a wonderful young man”
When Dale met David, he put him under his wing. Dale had not met David’s mother, but knew her loss was profound.
Dale’s wife, Susan, set a place for David on Sunday dinners. Susan had this for years for anyone who needed a place on Sundays. David was now a part of Dale and Susan’s family. David was a lonely, but now he had a family too.
David was at Leo’s every Monday morning. David had a cup of hot water, … until someone showed up and offered to buy David’s breakfast. Dale offered to buy David breakfast and David accepted and ate breakfast.
David, Part 3 by Deb Madonna
I knew David in grade school and Dale knew David as a man in his 60s. There were some similarities between the young and older David.
Long before the word nerd was around, that was what David was. He worked hard. When he wanted to do something and was told no, then he would do the research and come back and pursue the issue. David and I could have been twins.
David was a collector of all sorts of things, including organs and pianos. He had several storage units and a house full of stuff.
David came to dinner at the Sirkles every Sunday. When he didn’t show up, Dale contacted 911. ENT, Fireman, and Police. Everybody showed up. Everyone knew David.
Like David, many people gave a quick diagnosis or a condition. In the mid-50s, the label was “different”. Dale said that some of the adults were afraid of David. They weren’t really afraid of David, but they were uncomfortable with his “differences”. It sure wasn’t fear.
In grade school, David always carried a briefcase, in 4th and 5th grade. David was teased. And when the teasing went on too long, he would be so upset.
One day in 9th grade, David standing at his locker. Kids added their locks to David’s lock on his locker. He was so upset. In the 1960s, it was the wild west for a child who others labeled him with the words “different”. I didn’t see David again in middle or high school.
Susan can tell us about David, what foods were his favorite.
Dale can tell about his commitment to his community, especially to children.
David’s loving, kind, caring mother could always tell stories about how hard David worked to anyone wanted to listen. She certainly adored him.
In Dale and Susan’s pictures at their Sunday dinners, David always wore a long-sleeve white shirt, the top button was unbuttoned.
One memory I have of David 4th and 5th grade was that he always wore a long-sleeve white shirt. The top button was buttoned. A young boy with a briefcase. His mom wanted teachers to know that he was a hard-working student. That’s a mom.
David’s mom, Elizabeth, was so kind. She took care of me when I broke
Elizabeth sent a package to me when I returned to school. There was a “get well” card and a doll.
Even though he was not welcomed in school or the playground, he grew to be a man who worked hard and he made a place in the world for children.
Elizabeth would be so relieved that David had a place at Susan’s Sunday Dinners’ Table.
Submitted by Dale Sirkle, David’s friend
& Debra Madonna, David’s friend
Submitted by Dale Sickle, David’s friend