Michael was such a Mensch, in every sense of the word.  He was  an amazing, loving, smart, fun, funny, generous, and respected man. He made people feel good, confident, and lucky to have him in their lives. He leaves a wonderful legacy.  Joanne and Don, you need to be proud of the exceptional person you raised, guided, and loved.  We wish that things could be different, and we could be with you personally at this difficult time, but we are with you all the way  in spirit. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️



Joanne and Don,
My thoughts are with you, Travis, Zoe, Alex and Vickie at this most difficult time of your lives. 
Michael will be remembered as the wonderful child, partner and father that he was by everyone who knew him and loved him.
I  always picture him sitting at the piano in your house and playing beautifully with Zoe singing. Memories will keep him alive with you at all times. 
Fondly,
Rochelle


I am so sorry about your loss of Michael.  We are thinking of you during this very difficult time. Our thoughts and prayers are with you!

Sending much love,

Jodi (Glickman) Marion and family


I will always remember Michael playing "Happiness" on the piano while I sang.  It was during the time of Lisa's Bat Mitzvah and we were in the Edison, New Jersey living room.  Michael was so smart and talented!  The Wagner family sends their love and light to all who loved him.

Mike.  

I’ll always remember the witty, self deprecating, yet strangely competitive texts we sent each other.  Sometimes, our repartee would lament how our kids were growing up too fast or when one of us ran into a mutual friend.  But it was always the voice from the one person I needed to hear from at that point in time.   Your cagy use of words and rapier wit never failed to make me smile.

Never one to be outdone, your last text to me heartily boasted “I’d rather be ‘Mike-who?’” expertly referencing a misadventure of ours on a particularly frigid evening outside of The Chop House in Chicago.

You could never be ‘Mike-who’ to me.  

Anyone can make you frown.  Very few can make you smile. Mike Burger, you made me smile.

I miss you.


Mike came to visit several times when I was a kid after I aged out of HVC. He was either traveling for work or sometimes just to catch up with a few of us that stayed in touch. He was great at putting in the effort to make the trip and stay in touch. When I was maybe 13, Mike came to visit me in NH during the winter. I’m not sure if it was a miscalculation on his part or if he was secretly hoping to find an adventure out of his comfort zone, but it was clear that when visiting a kid from Mount Washington Valley in the winter, skiing was not going to go unmentioned. After what I remember as some mild cajoling, I convinced him that attempting the smallest and closest mountain in the valley would be safe (and practically inevitable). Mike and I went to the rental shop and got him outfitted. They even had ski boots his size. :). The subject of his flat feet in ski boots is unforgettable. Mike “yard-saled” his equipment on the unload zone and with snow-packed jeans, got up and brushed himself off with a snarl. After getting up and clicking in, making some cautious turns and finding his way to the bottom with skis actually underneath him, he decided that skiing was not for him. That was ok with me because for the first time I had been able to broaden his experiences and add to the stories that Mike had to tell, instead of him being the maestro. He was a goldmine of stories and reminisces, and I was thrilled to add to his stockpile by bringing him skiing one night. And we had a hell of a time!

This memory goes to show the adventurous spirit and generous approach Mike brought to his life and the rest of ours too. With a big smile he would come and go, visiting and impacting. Making me think. Making me miss old times. He was a hero of my childhood and a friend in my adulthood. I will miss him greatly.

Here’s a photo of a recent visit where we could get the kids together. Awesome!

OBITUARY

Michael David Burger

June 10, 1970 – June 10, 2020

Fairhaven Memorial Services

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