HARTWICK - Monroe John Burch, better known as "Jack", died unexpectedly Friday night, July 1, 2011, at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown. He was 58.
Born January 16, 1953, at Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown, Jack was a son of Marjorie (Conover) Burch and Orlo G. Burch.
A lifelong resident of this area, Jack first attended elementary school in Hartwick, then Bugbee Elementary School in Oneonta, and later graduated from Oneonta High School in 1972. He then attended Utica College of Syracuse University where he studied accounting, and graduated in 1976.
Jack was first employed for five years with ARC in Hartwick and then for the next four years with Crop Production in Oneonta. He was currently serving as a longstanding/20+year employee in the internet technology department as an IT Specialist at the Cooperstown headquarters of the New York, Susquehanna & Western Railway (NYSW).
Jack loved Hartwick and throughout the years served his family's community in several capacities. For 29 years he was a member of Hartwick Fire Department Co. No. 1 and the Emergency Medical Squad. Since he became a resident of Oak River Trailer Park, Index, he was currently serving with Hartwick Fire Department Co. No. 2. In 1978 Jack served as the Supervisor of the Town of Hartwick. For the next 19 years (1979-1997), he served as the Deputy Town Supervisor, during which time his sister, Carole Burch Donahue, served as Supervisor. In 1979, Jack ran for the office of Otsego County Representative. He also served at one time as a Trustee of the First Baptist Church of Hartwick.
In his leisure, Jack enjoyed vacationing with his sister, Carole, and nephew, Tim. Jack especially loved spending time in Daytona, Florida, and was an avid fan of NASCAR. He also liked to go to the movies, attend Buffalo Bills football games, photography, delving into Hartwick history, and spending time with his family and his cat, Mariah.
Jack is survived by his nephew, Timothy Donahue, and his wife, Meg Donahue, and their children, Kaylan, Andrea, M. Kelsea, Timothy "Devon", Aislinn and Brennan Donahue; niece Julie and Richard (Burr) Minckler, Malia and Maizie Minckler; nephew Orlo ("Bill") and Julie Burch, Orlo ("Nicholas") and Alyssa Burch; niece Shelley and Ed Jackson, Andrew, Anthony and Cooper; niece Kerry Burch and her husband , Jeremy Losaw; niece Amanda Burch; nephew Matt Burch; nephew David and Jessica Burch and Jacob Burch; niece Leah Burch; brothers Orlo C. Burch and wife, Cindy, and David G. Burch and wife, Sharon; his cat, Mariah; and his very good and devoted friend.
Jack was predeceased by his mother, Marjorie C. Burch, who died March 21, 1993; his father, Orlo G. Burch, who died February 9, 1994; and his sister, Carole Burch Donahue - with whom he was very close - who died August 26, 1998.
Friends are invited to pay their respects from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, July 7, 2011, at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown, when Jack's family will be in attendance.
A funeral service will be offered at 2 p.m. Thursday, July 7, 2011, at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown, with Phillip Sell, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Hartwick, officiating.
Burial will follow in the Burch and Conover family plot in Hartwick Cemetery.
As an alternative to flowers, those who so desire may make memorial gifts in memory of Jack to the Hartwick Fire Department Co. No. 2, 4877 State Highway 28, Cooperstown, NY 13326 or to the American Stroke Association, P.O. Box 3049, Syracuse, NY 13220-3049.
Arrangements are under the guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.
Born January 16, 1953, at Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown, Jack was a son of Marjorie (Conover) Burch and Orlo G. Burch.
A lifelong resident of this area, Jack first attended elementary school in Hartwick, then Bugbee Elementary School in Oneonta, and later graduated from Oneonta High School in 1972. He then attended Utica College of Syracuse University where he studied accounting, and graduated in 1976.
Jack was first employed for five years with ARC in Hartwick and then for the next four years with Crop Production in Oneonta. He was currently serving as a longstanding/20+year employee in the internet technology department as an IT Specialist at the Cooperstown headquarters of the New York, Susquehanna & Western Railway (NYSW).
Jack loved Hartwick and throughout the years served his family's community in several capacities. For 29 years he was a member of Hartwick Fire Department Co. No. 1 and the Emergency Medical Squad. Since he became a resident of Oak River Trailer Park, Index, he was currently serving with Hartwick Fire Department Co. No. 2. In 1978 Jack served as the Supervisor of the Town of Hartwick. For the next 19 years (1979-1997), he served as the Deputy Town Supervisor, during which time his sister, Carole Burch Donahue, served as Supervisor. In 1979, Jack ran for the office of Otsego County Representative. He also served at one time as a Trustee of the First Baptist Church of Hartwick.
In his leisure, Jack enjoyed vacationing with his sister, Carole, and nephew, Tim. Jack especially loved spending time in Daytona, Florida, and was an avid fan of NASCAR. He also liked to go to the movies, attend Buffalo Bills football games, photography, delving into Hartwick history, and spending time with his family and his cat, Mariah.
Jack is survived by his nephew, Timothy Donahue, and his wife, Meg Donahue, and their children, Kaylan, Andrea, M. Kelsea, Timothy "Devon", Aislinn and Brennan Donahue; niece Julie and Richard (Burr) Minckler, Malia and Maizie Minckler; nephew Orlo ("Bill") and Julie Burch, Orlo ("Nicholas") and Alyssa Burch; niece Shelley and Ed Jackson, Andrew, Anthony and Cooper; niece Kerry Burch and her husband , Jeremy Losaw; niece Amanda Burch; nephew Matt Burch; nephew David and Jessica Burch and Jacob Burch; niece Leah Burch; brothers Orlo C. Burch and wife, Cindy, and David G. Burch and wife, Sharon; his cat, Mariah; and his very good and devoted friend.
Jack was predeceased by his mother, Marjorie C. Burch, who died March 21, 1993; his father, Orlo G. Burch, who died February 9, 1994; and his sister, Carole Burch Donahue - with whom he was very close - who died August 26, 1998.
Friends are invited to pay their respects from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, July 7, 2011, at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown, when Jack's family will be in attendance.
A funeral service will be offered at 2 p.m. Thursday, July 7, 2011, at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown, with Phillip Sell, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Hartwick, officiating.
Burial will follow in the Burch and Conover family plot in Hartwick Cemetery.
As an alternative to flowers, those who so desire may make memorial gifts in memory of Jack to the Hartwick Fire Department Co. No. 2, 4877 State Highway 28, Cooperstown, NY 13326 or to the American Stroke Association, P.O. Box 3049, Syracuse, NY 13220-3049.
Arrangements are under the guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.
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