Dr. Richard E. Burkart

It is with great sadness and love that we share news of the peaceful passing of our father, Dr. Richard E. Burkart, on March 13, 2023.  Richard was born June 24, 1931, in Metairie, LA, a suburb of New Orleans.  His mother, Lillian (Bruzeau) Burkart died at a young age, so “Richie” and his sister Marian were raised by their grandparents, Viola and Henry Bruzeau.  Richie met the love of his life, Janet (nee Gerbrecht), in primary school and never looked back.  He graduated from Louisiana State University in music education and earned his Doctorate of Musical Arts in trumpet performance from University of Wisconsin (Madison).  Richard served as Professor of Brass at The Ohio State University for the remainder of his career.  He also served as President of the International Trumpet Guild from 1985-1987, performed with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra on many occasions, and was a multi-year member of the Lancaster Festival Orchestra.  Musicality and his ability to teach this to others is his professional legacy; the beauty of his playing and his dedication to teaching brought joy and inspiration to countless listeners and students across the globe, many of whom returned to play at his retirement recital in 1995.  His greatest passions were his faith, family, music and students, to whom he was known fondly as “Doc”.  He served as lay minister at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and lent his beautiful horn to the church’s music program for over 40 years.  In retirement, Richard played with the Toll House Jazz Band, a dixie-land group true to his New Orleans musical roots. Richard is preceded in death by parents Richard and Lillian Burkart, beloved wife Janet, beautiful daughter Elizabeth, adored sister Marian (Jack) Winters, and brothers and sister in-law Jack Winters, Johnny (Lynnette) Gerbrecht, and Juanita Loup.  He is survived by brother-in-law Jerry Gerbrecht and sister-in-law Lynnette Gerbrecht; daughters Lillian Burkart, Jeanette (Tom) Kimball, and Marian Burkart; sons Richard J (Marisa) and Thomas (Karen) Burkart; grandchildren Meredith, Alex, Spencer and Maddie Burkart, Russell and Tyler Phelan, and Jeff and Jana Kimball.

Visitation will take place 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm, March 21 at Shaw-Davis Clintonville Chapel, 4341 North High Street, Columbus, OH, 43214.  Funeral mass will be held at 11:00 am on Wednesday, March 22, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 414 E N Broadway, Columbus, OH, 43214.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Richard Burkart Trumpet Scholarship fund (www.giveto.osu.edu/makeagift/?fund=313434) or to the Mount Carmel Foundation Hospice fund (https://donor.mountcarmelfoundation.org/, direct gift to Hospice Fund).