Sponsored by:Pat McArron
- Birth
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Sheboygan, Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, USA
- Death
- 11 Dec 2020 (aged 90)
San Diego, San Diego County, California, USA
- Burial
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Sheboygan, Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, USA Add to Map
- Plot
- Section 5N, Lot 130
- Memorial ID
- 253007439 View Source
Eugene Raymond 'Gene' Burkard
July 7, 1930 - December 11, 2020
San Diego
The Founder of the International Male catalog.
Eugene Raymond Burkard, founder of one of San Diego's most successful businesses, the International Male catalog and stores, passed away on December 11, 2020. He died at home peacefully, with his closest friends around him. He was 90 years old.
Born in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, on July 7, 1930, Eugene {Gene}, one of seven children, attended local schools and upon graduating high school, attended the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. In 1950, Gene was drafted into the United States Air Force and served stateside and in Alaska until honorably discharged in 1953.
Back in Milwaukee Gene was employed by the Milwaukee Journal newspaper and discovered he had a talent for writing marketing and sales copy. However, the excitement of travel soon beckoned and he accepted a position with the Milwaukee Schlitz Company to supply US military bases in Europe and the Middle East. Gene spent the next 9 years traveling from base to base while observing the different styles and traditions in his territories.
Returning to the U.S. in 1968, he decided to recreate some of the refreshing and exciting clothing he had seen. The result was the hugely successful mail order catalog, International Male. The catalog, along with two retail operations in Los Angeles and San Diego, filled a void that had existed in the young men's market for many years.
With the advent of the HIV crisis, Gene was instrumental in starting Mama's Kitchen, served on the board of the San Diego LGBT Community Center and was also a supporter of St. Vincent de Paul.
A writer and singer of songs with a voice reminiscent of Sinatra, Gene was always happy to host a party mainly because it gave him the opportunity to sing some of the many songs he had written. A designer, composer, singer, and philanthropist, Eugene Raymond Burkard spent his life joyfully. Oh, how he will be missed!
He is survived by his long-term companion, Ron Hicks of San Diego, his dearest friend of 50 years and subject of his deepest affection, Gloria Tomita, his sisters Mary Rouse of Germantown, WI and Delores Bykowski of Mequon, WI, and brother Carl Burkard of Skokie, IL and their families.
A Memorial Service will be scheduled post COVID-19. The family suggests sending memorial contributions to Mama's Kitchen, the San Diego LGBT Community Center and St. Vincent de Paul.
San Diego Union-Tribune, Dec. 20, 2020.
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UC San Diego HIV Institute receives $400,000 donation from Eugene R. Burkard Charitable Remainder Trust
La Jolla, CA: In October 2022, the UC San Diego HIV Institute received a $400,000 contribution from the Eugene R. Burkard Charitable Remainder Trust. Eugene (Gene) Raymond Burkard founded the International Male catalog and stores, one of San Diego's most successful businesses. With the advent of the HIV crisis, Mr. Burkard played an instrumental role in the San Diego community, including helping to start Mama's Kitchen and serving on the board of the San Diego LGBT Community Center.
Eugene Raymond 'Gene' Burkard
July 7, 1930 - December 11, 2020
San Diego
The Founder of the International Male catalog.
Eugene Raymond Burkard, founder of one of San Diego's most successful businesses, the International Male catalog and stores, passed away on December 11, 2020. He died at home peacefully, with his closest friends around him. He was 90 years old.
Born in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, on July 7, 1930, Eugene {Gene}, one of seven children, attended local schools and upon graduating high school, attended the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. In 1950, Gene was drafted into the United States Air Force and served stateside and in Alaska until honorably discharged in 1953.
Back in Milwaukee Gene was employed by the Milwaukee Journal newspaper and discovered he had a talent for writing marketing and sales copy. However, the excitement of travel soon beckoned and he accepted a position with the Milwaukee Schlitz Company to supply US military bases in Europe and the Middle East. Gene spent the next 9 years traveling from base to base while observing the different styles and traditions in his territories.
Returning to the U.S. in 1968, he decided to recreate some of the refreshing and exciting clothing he had seen. The result was the hugely successful mail order catalog, International Male. The catalog, along with two retail operations in Los Angeles and San Diego, filled a void that had existed in the young men's market for many years.
With the advent of the HIV crisis, Gene was instrumental in starting Mama's Kitchen, served on the board of the San Diego LGBT Community Center and was also a supporter of St. Vincent de Paul.
A writer and singer of songs with a voice reminiscent of Sinatra, Gene was always happy to host a party mainly because it gave him the opportunity to sing some of the many songs he had written. A designer, composer, singer, and philanthropist, Eugene Raymond Burkard spent his life joyfully. Oh, how he will be missed!
He is survived by his long-term companion, Ron Hicks of San Diego, his dearest friend of 50 years and subject of his deepest affection, Gloria Tomita, his sisters Mary Rouse of Germantown, WI and Delores Bykowski of Mequon, WI, and brother Carl Burkard of Skokie, IL and their families.
A Memorial Service will be scheduled post COVID-19. The family suggests sending memorial contributions to Mama's Kitchen, the San Diego LGBT Community Center and St. Vincent de Paul.
San Diego Union-Tribune, Dec. 20, 2020.
+++
UC San Diego HIV Institute receives $400,000 donation from Eugene R. Burkard Charitable Remainder Trust
La Jolla, CA: In October 2022, the UC San Diego HIV Institute received a $400,000 contribution from the Eugene R. Burkard Charitable Remainder Trust. Eugene (Gene) Raymond Burkard founded the International Male catalog and stores, one of San Diego's most successful businesses. With the advent of the HIV crisis, Mr. Burkard played an instrumental role in the San Diego community, including helping to start Mama's Kitchen and serving on the board of the San Diego LGBT Community Center.
- Maintained by: Old Waco / T. B. Willis
- Originally Created by: Marlin Miller
- Added: Apr 29, 2023
- Find a Grave Memorial ID:
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Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/253007439/eugene_raymond-burkard: accessed ), memorial page for Eugene Raymond “Gene” Burkard (7 Jul 1930–11 Dec 2020), Find a Grave Memorial ID 253007439, citing Calvary Cemetery, Sheboygan, Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, USA; Maintained by Old Waco / T. B. Willis (contributor 47102556).