Coach Burke ’70 broadens his support of athletics

As the winningest coach in Cornell history, Fred Burke ’70 understands the importance of recruiting top student-athletes. That’s why he is providing a gift that creates a strong first impression when people enter the renewed Richard and Norma Small Athletic and Wellness Center (the SAW).

“The very first thing an athletic recruit sees when they enter the athletic building is the lobby. First impressions are key for any endeavor,” said Burke, who gave $200,000 for the main entrance lobby, part of Cornell’s $19.5 million Athletic and Wellness Facilities Project. 

Burke’s gift also will contribute toward broadening the education of all Cornellians.

“I’ve always been a huge believer in the broad liberal arts experience,” he said. “That would include the fine arts and athletics and any other outside-the-norm college experience.”

Burke has a unique Cornell story. In his first year he went out for tennis but hurt his knee. Though he was never able to compete for Cornell, he spent so many hours in the Field House playing a variety of intramural and pickup sports with a wrapped knee that men’s basketball coach Paul Maaske told him, “for not being an athlete you use more jock tape than any other person,” Burke recalled with a laugh.

After he graduated with a degree in history and education, Burke took a job teaching social studies in Mount Vernon. The following year he went into financial advising and has lived in Mount Vernon and organized tennis games with friends ever since.

And then, in 1983, Athletic Director Baron Bremner made a fateful decision to ask Burke if he would coach the women’s tennis team. Burke accepted and coached the team for 28 winning seasons (1983-2011). His teams won four conference championships and finished in the top three of the conference 24 years. He received Cornell’s Leadership & Service Award in 2002 and was inducted into Cornell’s Athletic Hall of Fame 2008.

“Not only does Fred have an amazing legacy as a coach, he’s been an important supporter of Rams athletics for years. His gifts are thoughtful, and this gift will be incredibly helpful with recruiting and retaining Cornell students. We are grateful to Fred,” said Athletic Director and Head Baseball Coach Seth Wing. 

Burke is a loyal leadership donor to Cornell, supporting the Thomas Commons renovation (naming the PAAC office), special projects in athletics (the previous lobby, the Field House bleachers, and numerous tennis court resurfacings), women’s tennis, Golden Rams, and the Cornell Fund.

Burke remains close to many of his former players. The year after he retired from coaching he began taking international trips with players to see tennis tournaments.

“In 2012 I finally decided that I wanted to go to Wimbledon and I figured some of my players would too. I wrote a letter to a few I thought might want to go and told them that it would just be a Cornell-only tennis trip, and surprisingly, a dozen of them agreed to that,” he said.

In 2014 a group went to the Australian Open, and in 2015 they attended the French Open. In 2018 they traveled to the Shanghai Open and most recently a group flew to the Vienna Open. 

Burke enjoys planning trips and has done so for his Mount Vernon friends over the years as well. He loves living in Mount Vernon and being involved in the community. 

“I think Mount Vernon and Cornell are special places. I’ve stayed here and I just want to donate to the local area. Cornell and Mount Vernon are kind of melded together, so you’re always helping both parts,” he said. “Creating an atmosphere where people are happier—that should be everyone’s goal. I think your work and play environments are a couple of the building blocks of happiness and feeling good about your life.”