Richard W. Burke died peacefully in his home on Jan. 17, 2017 from complications due to multiple system atrophy. He was 66.
Richard was born March 20, 1950, in Los Angeles County, California.
He is survived by his husband, Christopher Merrill; and his sister, Jeannie Halversen, her husband Scott and their three children, Christian, Cody and Rachel. He is also survived by adopted mother Harriet Bostwick.
He was preceded in death by his beloved grandmother, Edith Coons Barrett. His grandmother instilled in him a love of classical music, musical theater, good books and cats.
He was a lover of architecture and an avid collector of model cars, taking great pleasure in assembling them and putting them on display. He loved listening to the standards, especially the recordings of Tony Bennett.
Richard was a kind, gentle and loving man, very even-tempered and easy to get along with. Friends would remark on his “kind eyes.”
Visitation will be held at the Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted St., 1-3 p.m., in the third-floor auditorium, on Saturday, Jan. 28. A short ceremony will be held at 1:30 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations naming Richard W. Burke (in the subject line of the Center’s online donation form, or in the lower left-hand corner of the check) may be made to The Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted St., Chicago, IL 60613. People may also bring donations to the visitation.