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Gene Edberne Burke
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Birth: May 2, 1929
Harris County
Texas, USA
Death: Nov. 5, 2014
Dr. Gene Edberne Burke, 85, died peacefully on November 5, 2014 at his home surrounded by his loving family. Gene was born on May 2, 1929 in Houston, Texas. He graduated from San Jacinto High School in 1947, where he was salutatorian and editor of the yearbook. He attended The University of Texas, pledged Phi Sigma Delta, now Zeta Beta Tau, and served as president of the fraternity for two terms. He was selected to Phi Beta Kappa in his junior year and graduated in 1952. He attended and graduated from Baylor College of Medicine and from 1957 to 1960, he was a resident at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. In October of 1960, he returned to Houston to join the Kelsey Leary Clinic (now Kelsey Seybold Clinic) as the 6th partner.
Needing a date to a Temple Emanu El event, several good friends and his sister, Barbara, encouraged him to ask Jean Schwartz of Schulenburg to be his date. They met on November 5, 1960, exactly 54 years ago, and were engaged 25 days later on November 30th.
They married on February 26, 1961 and celebrated their 50th anniversary before Jean passed away in 2011.
Together Jean and Gene loved attending Texas Longhorn football games, entertaining at their home where Gene was the ultimate chef, traveling, attending the symphony, opera, concerts at Festival Hill in Roundtop and visiting their farm in Schulenburg. He loved collecting antiques and Mason's Ironstone and became a major expert in the field.
Gene served on many boards including Temple Beth Israel, American Jewish Committee, First National Bank of Schulenburg, Contemporary Arts Museum, Houston Council for Alcoholism and Westwood Country Club. He served as Medical Director of Texas Eastern Transmission Company and managing partner of Kelsey Seybold downtown.
"He Gene" or "Dr. Gene" as he was affectionately known, was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Jean Schwartz Burke; his parents, Ruth and Frank Burke; his brothers, Leonard Burke, Ronnie Burke and wife, Marcia Burke; brother-in-law, Beryl Harberg; and his in-laws, the Honorable Hirsh and Felice Schwartz of Schulenburg.
He is survived by his loving children, Gregory Burke of Houston, Tracy Burke and Bob Blomquist of Boulder, Colorado, and Jeff and Christina Burke of Austin, Texas. Gene will be remembered as a wonderful grandfather to Alex Burke and Benjamin and Sophie Ostrov; and Godfather to Jessi Anderson. He also leaves sister, Barbara Harberg, sister and brother in laws, Connie Burke, Phyllis and Howard Hengst, Paula and Rick Stein; family friends, Sally and Scott Anderson; and many nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank his wonderful caregivers, Socorro Perez, Tootie Rogers, Charlotte Warren and the staff at The Montebello Condominium for their care and friendship.
A memorial service and reception will be held on Sunday, November 9 at 1:30PM at Houston Congregation for Reform Judaism, 801 Bering Drive in Houston, where Rabbi Steven M. Gross will officiate.
At a later date, the family will gather for a private committal service at Beth Israel Cemetery.
Houston Chronicle 11/9/2014
Family links:
Spouse:
Jean Schwartz Burke (1934 - 2011)
Burial:
Beth Israel Cemetery
Houston
Harris County
Texas, USA
Created by: Kelley Bean
Record added: Dec 07, 2014
Find A Grave Memorial# 139720425
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1929 - 2014 (85 years)