- Joined
- Jul 10, 2010
- Messages
- 5,546
- Name
- Michael
My grandfather passed away last night. He was a great sports fan and at one time a very good athlete. I'm not looking for sympathy per se, just need to talk this out.
He grew-up in St. Louis City and played baseball against hall of famers Joe Gargiola and Yogi Berra. The Cardinals even offered him a contract, but he turned it down in favor of getting married-it was still the great depression and a minor league salary was not very great, he had a good job opportunity from a utility company where his brother worked and took it so that he could get married. He was married for 61 years until his wife passed away (something I don't think he ever really recovered from). My grandfather was a generous man, a humble man and a good hearted man. My friend got married at the Catholic church he and his wife went to for over 50 years (every week), during the sermon the priest singled out my grandfather and grandmother as the ideal marriage.
He volunteered as a coach for soccer and baseball and tried to teach my father sports, but my dad was never big into athletics. I obviously was, and he taught me how to play baseball and soccer. He probably would have taught me football had he played it in high school.
My family didn't have much money growing up, but he always made sure I had food and clothes. If I needed a ride to practice, to school, or a game he was always willing and available. He took me to baseball games, hockey games, football games. He has as much impact on me being a sports fan as anyone in this world. I will truly miss him.
RIP George Michael Burgard, 1922-2012
He grew-up in St. Louis City and played baseball against hall of famers Joe Gargiola and Yogi Berra. The Cardinals even offered him a contract, but he turned it down in favor of getting married-it was still the great depression and a minor league salary was not very great, he had a good job opportunity from a utility company where his brother worked and took it so that he could get married. He was married for 61 years until his wife passed away (something I don't think he ever really recovered from). My grandfather was a generous man, a humble man and a good hearted man. My friend got married at the Catholic church he and his wife went to for over 50 years (every week), during the sermon the priest singled out my grandfather and grandmother as the ideal marriage.
He volunteered as a coach for soccer and baseball and tried to teach my father sports, but my dad was never big into athletics. I obviously was, and he taught me how to play baseball and soccer. He probably would have taught me football had he played it in high school.
My family didn't have much money growing up, but he always made sure I had food and clothes. If I needed a ride to practice, to school, or a game he was always willing and available. He took me to baseball games, hockey games, football games. He has as much impact on me being a sports fan as anyone in this world. I will truly miss him.
RIP George Michael Burgard, 1922-2012
