Des followed Ted through St. Ignatius School, making his mark in his sheer delight in everything around him: studies, sports and play. The Dictionary of Jesuit Biography, 1991, says in the article on Uncle Walter, "He mastered the art of conversation, and Jesuit community life was significantly enlivened by it, particularly when a Burke-Gaffney family trait revealed itself by an explosive outburst of temper." If it really was a family trait, Des inherited not bad temper but outrage at unfairness and huge enthusiasm.
John has a vivid recollection of the summer day in 1930 when Des, teased by a McPhee boy, chased him up the steps of his home with his fist cocked. As he unleashed his left-handed blow, McPhee slammed shut the porch door which had small glass windows: Des put his fist through the glass almost to his elbow. John can still see Des, ignoring his torn arm spurting blood, calling McPhee to come outside to settle accounts. Des had a vivid scar across the ball of his left thumb and up his forearm for the rest of his life. (About 20 years later Des was writing an exam at the novitiate in Guelph when he felt a scratching on the paper from something protruding from the heel of his right hand: he extracted a splinter of window glass. It had traveled his entire system.)
On another occasion, during a game, he broke his collarbone and had to wear a massive brace on his back for months while it healed. Another trauma, not self-inflicted, caused him endless trouble when an infection in his left eye, probably acquired while swimming, eventually requiring removal of the duct. None of this slowed him down.
By the time Des completed grade school in 1934, St. Paul's had a separate high school on the same downtown property as the college. The two-storey new building, Paul Shea Hall, had been a gift of the Shea family, named after their son who died as a young man. Jesuits filled most of the teaching posts, although they recruited some notable figures to direct the science department, for example, and the sports programs. Des excelled in basketball, football and swimming. At some point, Des -- perhaps Ted -- became involved with the Winnipeg Canoe Club, and for some years it became the summer hang-out, at least for the boys. Mary remembers Dad driving Mother and herself to Selkirk to visit Des and friends stopping over on a canoe trip to Camp Morton. The basswood canoe, with a distinctive black patch on its prow from an ancient collision, came into our possession somehow and was stored in the vast Club shed overlooking the Red River. Several years later, John and his friend Brian Tobin made a similar trip but stopped at Selkirk. Des took part in the frequent Club regattas and we can remember him paddling his heart out in a war-canoe race.
During his university years, Des was elected Senior Stick and was a very visible member of the student body in all its activities, especially in basketball, swimming and diving, and spent several summers as lifeguard at the swank Minaki Lodge in the Lake of the woods. He was very much at the centre of the social whirl so his decision in 1939 to enter the Society of Jesus after he graduated from U of M came as a surprise to some but not to his parents and faqmily. He entered the Jesuit novitiate at Guelph, Ont., and in 1943 went to Loyola College, Montreal, for a one-year teaching stint. In 1946, he moved to Regiopolis High School, Kingston, to teach as a scholastic, then, in 1948, to the Toronto seminary to study theology.
Des was ordained June 25, 1951 at the Jesuit Seminary, Toronto; Dad, Mother, Dot and Iris Glenny attended. He said his first Solemn High Mass at St. Ignatius, Winnipeg, served by his brothers. Shortly after, he returned to Toronto for his 4th year of theology. In 1952, Des spent a year of spiritual theology in Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin, where he was able to visit his 88-year-old grandmother in Dublin and Uncle Jack, then 63.
In 1953, Des moved to Fordham University, New York, to complete his M.A.and to begin doctoral studies; he obtained both his M.A. and a Ph.D., his thesis being an edition of "The Epistle of Comfort" written by the Elizabethan poet Saint Robert Southwell, S.J. Stanzas of a hymn written by Southwell were read at both his and Ted's funerals. In 1959, he returned to Guelph to teach Jesuit scholastics. After the doctorate he spent one more year in England (1958-59) doing research at the British Museum before returning to Guelph, Ontario, to teach English literature to young Jesuits at Ignatius College
His life took a major turn in 1962 when he was transferred to St. Paul's College, Winnipeg, as assistant professor of English – and, of course, gave joy to his parents who relished his anecdotes. Two years later, Des was appointed Rector of St. Paul's which had been suffering disagreements among its faculty, made worse by a decision by the Provincial Government to end its traditional funding of federated colleges. A book of "Memories and Histories" published in 1999 contained this remark: "In June 1964 (Fr. Hugh Kierans) was succeeded by the Rev. Desmond P. Burke-Gaffney, a Jesuit of the old school, urbane, percipient, and resolute, one who preferred his own counsel and was certainly not inclined to take guidance from his fellow Jesuits or, least of all, his lay colleagues." The author goes on to say that Des resolved many of the differences troubling the staff who found themselves in agreement with his clear-headed approach. (All this comes as no surprise to his family who had witnessed his skills as a conciliator.) His nieces and nephews have great stories to tell about Des who officiated at many of their life events from baptisms to weddings. They remember him as great story teller and entertainer.
From Winnipeg, the Society transferred him to Campion College, Regina, as Dean in 1969 where he gained a host of new friends, but kept up a flow of letters to his mother which she cherished. He actually had a student fan club at Campion that once serenaded him in his office with a violin solo, and whose choir rendered a touching short concert at his sickbed. He was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour in 1976. His brothers and sister visited him at the hospital where he was perfectly lucid. John and Mary witnessed a typical scene as a young couple, former students he had married with their infant he had baptized, couldn't contain their grief at his impending death and Des was consoling them, not they him.
Des died December 4 in Pasqua Hospital, Regina, Sask., at the age of 59 His death was mourned at a crowded wake service December 7, a Regina funeral December 8, and a solemn funeral at St. Ignatius Church in Winnipeg. He is buried in the Jesuit plot of St. Mary's Cemetery in Winnipeg, not far from where his parents lie.