Gerard Pierre Burnett's Obituary
Gerard Pierre Burnett passed away February 24, 2019 from Congestive Heart Failure and Multiple Myeloma at University of California San Francisco Medical Center. He had been a patient at the heart failure clinic. Gerard was well known in both the printing business and in the French community of the Bay Area.
Gerard is survived by his mother, Jeannette (Malabirade) Burnett; his wife, Mary Risard Burnett; his step children, Seth Karle and his wife, Andrea and their children Ellie and Ash, and Brianna Karle and her children Cash and Isla. He was predeceased by his father, Robert Burnett.
Gerard was born in Oakland and raised in Berkeley, California. He attended Bentley School and graduated from The College Preparatory School. He earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Commercial Photography in 1979 from The Academy of Art College in San Francisco.
Gerard spent his early career as a freelance corporate portrait photographer. He then entered the printing business, working first for Copymat in Emeryville as a manager and then joined Speedway Digital Printing in San Francisco as Vice President and General Manager. In his 20 years at Speedway, Gerard brought boundless energy to his many tasks. He did his work with a great sense of optimism. No detail was too small for his inquisitive mind. He treated everyone with respect, and always wanted to have each day end with at least “one small win.”
He married the love of his life, Mary Risard, at the Harvest Inn in St. Helena on August 14, 2010. They had known each other in High School and had reconnected after a 30-year separation. She brought into his life a complete family including two adult children, a daughter-in-law, and four grandchildren. Gerard led with his heart and thoroughly enjoyed helping and guiding the adult children and playing with his grandchildren who called him Grand Pére. Gerard was a family man who had a close relationship with all of his extended family. He enjoyed the family parties and getting together with his cousins on a regular basis.
Gerard was an active member of three French clubs: La Ligue Henri IV, Les Faneurs, and La Gauloise. He was on the board of La Ligue Henri IV and was looking forward to being elected president of the club in the near future. He loved participating in Club activities, volunteering and attending banquets. Gerard had a passion for life and enjoyed good food, good wine and good friends. He loved to travel and to see new places. Hawaii, Tahiti, and most recently Alaska held special places in his heart. Gerard was a problem solver who loved fixing t
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