Michael was a devoted hockey, art, and dance team dad. While admittedly not gifted at any of these activities, he was the loudest and proudest fan of his children’s activities and endeavors. He did excel on the legendary Cincinnati flag football team; the Nati Dreds. Feared for his speed, competitiveness and his infamous game face known simply as “the stare”, he made quick friends with teammates and competitors alike and was quick to raise a Heineken when the final whistle blew.
Marketing trainer, brand manager, professional guidance counselor, king of the one-liner, and fantasy sports pro are all titles that Michael wore with pride. Michael was mentor to others while working at Procter & Gamble, ConAgra, Intuit, and USAopoly and he was a fixture at his graduate school alma mater, University of Rochester’s Simon School of Business. His passion for professional development was evident.
Undoubtedly, Michael wore the title of husband, father, son and big brother the best; always with the broadest of infectious smiles while describing the latest accomplishment or anecdote of his family.
His legacy will live through countless others as he was a co-founder of the National Society of Minorities in Hospitality (NSHM) while just a freshman at Cornell University. Recognizing an absence of minorities in leadership roles at hospitality companies, Michael was instrumental in creating and then growing NSMH. Today, thousands have benefited from NSMH and companies have become better and more diverse because of his leadership.
Michael is survived by his wife, Annette (Mixon) Burkeen; his daughter, Alyssa; and his son, Edward. He is also survived by his mother Karna Burkeen; his brother Kenneth Burkeen; and his cousin Derrick Evans.
A celebration of life, with limited seating, will be held in his honor at 1PM PST on October 23rd at 684 S Mollison in El Cajon, CA 92020. Due to these unprecedented times, there will be a Facebook Live streaming of the service at that same time for those unable to attend. The live stream can be viewed on the Facebook page of Miramar Memorial Services.
While Michael liked flowers, he’d love for you to consider donating to the National Society of Minorities in Hospitality’s (NMSH) Legacy Fund in lieu of flowers at https://bit.ly/3mggqD8. To share a memory of Michael or send a condolence to his family please visit www.miramirmemorialservices.com
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