Former Boston Herald travel writer and web pioneer Bill Burke died unexpectedly at his Sandown, New Hampshire home on Monday. He was 54 years old.

Burke was instrumental in the team that created bostonherald.com during the early days of internet journalism. He then served as the Herald’s online editor for six of the 11 years he worked at the newspaper.

For many years he continued to freelance for the Herald and other publications, writing articles on travel, food, and music.

“People talk about a writer to writer or a writer to editor – but Bill was a writer to reader,” said Herald opinion page and editor Sandra Kent. “He took the readers somewhere. He took them to Disney. He made them taste the food he was trying, shop around and feel the same joy as he did.

Burke went on to create the Mousejunkies community, a network of thousands of people across the United States and around the world bound by a common love for the Magic Kingdom and the peculiarities of enjoying the resort to the fullest.

Burke wrote three Mousejunkies travel books that recounted his love for the park.

“He kind of embodied the phrase, do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life,” Kent said.

At Parenting New Hampshire, he wrote his column Dad on Board for 12 years, sharing the joys and challenges of raising daughter Katie and his efforts to teach her the importance of Bruins, Iron Maiden and British hockey. bass guitar.

He won seven gold and two silver awards from the Parenting Media Association for his column, which recognized his unique perspective and unconventional sense of humor. Burke was also the editor of personalized publications at McLean Communications.

Born in Charlestown, he was the son of William and Karen (Gammon) Burke.

He was a devoted husband and father and will be missed by his wife of nearly 26 years, Amy (Morancie) Burke; daughter, Katherine Burke; brother, Rick Burke and his wife, Janna, of Manchester, NH; sister Susan Payne and her husband, Shawn, of Maricopa, Arizona; sister Christine Kane and her husband, Barry of Manchester, NH; as well as several nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends are welcome to call 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday at Brookside Chapel & Funeral Home, 116 Main St., Plaistow, NH. , NH