Gerard Thomas Burgess

Gerard Thomas Burgess, 64, of Newport, RI, died unexpectedly in Shelton, CT, on the morning of November 26, 2010.He was a loving husband of 44 years and best friend to Denice Finn Burgess. Born in Brooklyn, NY on February 6, 1946, he was the son of Dorothy A. Burgess of Middletown, and the late George J. Burgess. Gerard was a 1964 graduate of De La Salle Academy in Newport and later attended CCRI. He proudly served in Vietnam with the U.S. Marine Corps from 1967-1968. As part of Charlie Company, 1/1 he bravely fought in the major battles of Hue, Khe Sanh, and Hill 881`. He earned three purple hearts for wounds received in action and always insisted, I was not a hero, I was just doing my job. He retired from Hexagon Metrology previously Brown and Sharpe in 2009 after 37 faithful years. He loved coaching his girls in the Newport Recreation A and B softball leagues and umpiring Newport Little League. He was a loyal Boston Red Sox and New York Giants fan. In addition, he was a lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans and enjoyed bowling and golf. He enjoyed going out to dinner and traveling with his wife and best friends. He was the very proud father of Jacqueleine Burgess of Medford, MA, Theresa Burgess of Newport and Shannon Burgess Gardell and son-in-law, Luis Gardell of Shelton, CT. The light of his life was his three grandchildren. He was the proud Poppa of Justin Thomas DeCosta, Lillian Piper Gardell, and Luis Roberto Gardell, Jr. He leaves his sister JoAnne McDonough of Middletown, MaryEllen Burgess and her husband, Walter Vericker of Watertown, MA and his brother James Burgess and his wife Diana of Middletown. He was the loving uncle to Meaghan McDonough Schreiner and her husband Steven Schreiner of Bristol, Ryan McDonough of Middletown, Kyla Burgess of Massachusetts and Madison Burgess of Middletown. He also took pride in assuming the role of grandfather to his great nephews, Jameson and Owen Schreiner. Preceding him in death was his brother, George J. Burgess, Jr., and his brother-in-law Patrick Mac McDonough.Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, December 1, 2010, from 4-8pm in the Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport. His funeral will be held on Thursday, December 2, 2010, at 9:00 am from the Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 am in St. Josephs Church, Broadway and Mann Avenue, Newport. Burial will be in Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Exeter. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, c/o St. Josephs Church, 5 Mann Avenue, Newport, RI 02840.