2008 Woodie Awards
Professor Burke welcomes first child
Jen Quinn
Issue date: 11/13/04 Section: News Stories
- Page 1 of 2 next >
It's a girl! On Sunday, July 18, 2004, Assumption College's Media Services supervisor and Television Arts lecturer, Tom Burke and his wife, Cheryl, welcomed their first child at Hartford Children's Hospital. Hannah Elizabeth Burke was born at 12:45 p.m. and weighed in at five pounds, three ounces. However, her birth was not without excitement.
"I literally almost caught her," Burke said. "She was a three minute delivery; the doctor barely had time to put her gloves and gown on. Three pushes and she was out."
The excitement has not stopped since. In addition to being the supervisor of Media Services, Tom is also the advisor for the campus' television club, WACT. During the fall he teaches one course, Television Production One, and does double duty in the spring, teaching both Television Production One and Two. Cheryl is a pediatric nurse at Connecticut Children's Hospital who works in the Oncology and Hematology Units. With schedules like these, how do they make time for baby?
"It's easy because Cheryl's hours are very flexible," said Burke. "She's only working part time, so she only has to work two twelve hour shifts a week. She also does a lot of overnights and weekends, which allows her to be home with Hannah during the day."
Having a job as a pediatric nurse must be quite the blessing to a new mom. So, how is Cheryl dealing with motherhood?
"She's a typical first time mom, she worries about everything," said Burke. "But, what great mom wouldn't?"
And how, exactly is Tom doing as a father?
"He's such a goofball," said Senior Carrie Burnap. "I always thought he would be that kind of dad whose baby has bubblegum in her hair, but he's not. Hannah comes into a room and his whole world stops."
Senior Amanda Gasbarro echoed this idea saying, "It's nice to see that Tom has finally grown up. He's much more mellow and relaxed now."
Has Hannah inherited Dad's goofball personality? "She's been laughing, smiling, and giggling since two months," Burke said. "She's a very happy baby."
"I literally almost caught her," Burke said. "She was a three minute delivery; the doctor barely had time to put her gloves and gown on. Three pushes and she was out."
The excitement has not stopped since. In addition to being the supervisor of Media Services, Tom is also the advisor for the campus' television club, WACT. During the fall he teaches one course, Television Production One, and does double duty in the spring, teaching both Television Production One and Two. Cheryl is a pediatric nurse at Connecticut Children's Hospital who works in the Oncology and Hematology Units. With schedules like these, how do they make time for baby?
"It's easy because Cheryl's hours are very flexible," said Burke. "She's only working part time, so she only has to work two twelve hour shifts a week. She also does a lot of overnights and weekends, which allows her to be home with Hannah during the day."
Having a job as a pediatric nurse must be quite the blessing to a new mom. So, how is Cheryl dealing with motherhood?
"She's a typical first time mom, she worries about everything," said Burke. "But, what great mom wouldn't?"
And how, exactly is Tom doing as a father?
"He's such a goofball," said Senior Carrie Burnap. "I always thought he would be that kind of dad whose baby has bubblegum in her hair, but he's not. Hannah comes into a room and his whole world stops."
Senior Amanda Gasbarro echoed this idea saying, "It's nice to see that Tom has finally grown up. He's much more mellow and relaxed now."
Has Hannah inherited Dad's goofball personality? "She's been laughing, smiling, and giggling since two months," Burke said. "She's a very happy baby."