Altruistic Starks inspired many as educator, advocate

Rather, Starks sought to improve the lives of those around him and the Tucson community as a whole.

“He injected himself for the betterment of people,” his brother, Larry Starks, said. “It was about the intrinsic value of knowing he helped someone else.”

When Starks unexpectedly collapsed at church May 31, stories of the impact the longtime educator and community organizer stretched across the city. He was 64.

Former students, friends, colleagues and family members expressed condolences, memories and appreciation for Starks’ willingness to lend an ear, to inspire and for his kind heart.

Starks was described as a driving force in the community. He was an Army veteran with a flair for singing and acting and worked as a dropout prevention specialist for the Tucson Unified School District.

Known for his involvement with Tucson’s Juneteenth celebration, Starks also helped with the MLK Celebration committee, Kiwanis International, Screen Actors Guild, Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus, America-Israel Friendship League, Pueblo Warrior Alumni Foundation, Dunbar Project and military organizations.

“The Tucson community is greatly served by his contribution to us and to TUSD,” said Governing Board President Adelita Grijalva, who honored Starks with a moment of silence at a meeting this week.

The oldest of 10 siblings, Starks has long been a community organizer.

“Growing up we always knew he was bigger than life,” Tim Starks said of his brother, who regularly put together community plays, recruiting his siblings, neighborhood children of all colors and backgrounds, and later his own children. “He brought all of these people together for one moment in time.”

As a high school and college student, Starks took his siblings on field trips to the University of Arizona campus to give them a glimpse into their potential future. Trips like that were rare for kids in their south-side neighborhood.

He coached youth sports teams and piled neighborhood children onto buses to whisk them away to summer camps in unfamiliar areas of town.

It’s no surprise that when Starks began working with youth in an official capacity through the school district, he took his roles as magnet school recruiter and dropout prevention specialist seriously, going beyond checking boxes on a to-do list.

Just as he held his own children to high standards, Starks worked to get to the core of students’ issues, making home visits and the occasional stop for ice cream.

But his job didn’t end on campus. He regularly wrote letters to get students into military academies and could often be heard at church, at family functions and around town speaking with young people.

“He’d always ask, ‘How do you like school? How can you make it better?’” Larry Starks said.

That line of questioning was not reserved for college-bound kids, Starks’ daughter Bekah recalled. He’d often ask the first-graders she babysat about their future plans.

Though Starks retired from TUSD last fall, a message he left for students at Pueblo Magnet High School remains posted there to inspire students: “If you want to make me happy, remember this: good, better, best, never let it rest; until your good is better and your better is best. Always strive to be the best.”

Starks’ passion for education stemmed from his parents who despite not graduating from high school, held learning in a high regard and expected their children to advance.

At the University of Arizona where he played football, participated in the marching band, student government and other activities. He went on to earn a master’s degree.

Though Starks is well known for how he extended himself to others, including strangers, his greatest pride was his family.

Ruthie Starks, his wife of 27 years, is now on the receiving end of the love and support from those her husband inspired.

“It’s unbelievable,” she said. “Everyone loved Burney. He touched everybody.”

As the Starks family struggles to move on without the patriarch’s bigger-than-life presence, they know he would want them and others to continue his causes.

“Don’t let the show stop — he’s a showman,” Larry Starks said. “Let the light shine on, that’s what he loved.”

Starks, son of Theola and Burnes, is survived by his wife and five children Benjamin, Burnes III, Elizabeth, Bryan and Bekah.