Margaret Helen Morrad-Burke passed away on June 4, 2015, at the age of 79 after battling cancer for 2 years. Margaret had a love for music and was a second violin player in the Livermore-Amador Symphony. In addition to playing in the orchestra, Margaret was an Association board member and a Guild member and wrote publicity articles about the Symphony for the Independent newspaper. Margaret also hosted violin sectionals, for all of the firsts and seconds, at her home where, as a memorable bonus, she served homemade scones and cream puffs!

A celebration of Margaret’s life on June 22, 2015, at Asbury United Methodist Church in Livermore included string quartet music featuring several LAS musicians. The family suggests that donations in memory of Margaret be made to the American Cancer Society. In the Cancer Society’s Relay for Life that was be held in Livermore on June 27 and June 28, 2015, Margaret’s son Kevin and his wife Gina walked in her honor.

Margaret was born on August 28, 1935, in Luton, in Bedfordshire, England. Margaret met her husband Eugene Burke during the Korean War while Eugene was in the Air Force serving in England and Margaret was in nurses’ training. They were married in 1955 in England and moved to Washington State while Eugene attended college. In 1960, Margaret and Eugene moved to Livermore to raise their two sons, Richard and Kevin. They have resided in Livermore for 55 years.

Margaret had a passion for learning. While raising her sons, she attended Cal State Hayward and earned her master’s degree in French Literature. In 1986, at the age of 51, she ran and finished the London Marathon. She was a member of the Asbury United Methodist Church and volunteered time at the Open Heart Kitchen. Her greatest joy was her grandchildren, Kirsten and Kristopher. She was a positive influence in their lives and gave tirelessly to them.—All this in addition to her violin-playing and her other work for LAS!

(written in June 2015, revised August 2015)

© Livermore-Amador Symphony Association