Marc and Lucille: So sorry for your loss. Mike was a great guy who always made me laugh whenever I would call to speak to Marc, or when I visited Arizona years ago on vacation. I've only visited the Grand Canyon once in my lifetime and I'm glad I did it with Mike, Lucille and Marc. Those are special memories. It just so happens that I was at the Saint Martin's Abbey today, walking the grounds and thinking of a movie that Marc shot years ago. When I got home, I decided to look up Marc on the Internet and came across this site and learned about Mike's death. Again, so sorry for your loss. Thinking about the Burgio family, Rolf.

Uncle Frank you will be deeply missed and not forgotten with your witty sense of humor. Even though we did not see alot of you in the last years, our thoughts were often of you. We will miss you. Danny & Sheila

Christmas time, 1950 I met Henry and the Burgio family-Mike and Lucille,Johnny Paul and Nieta Frazier. They had just recently moved to Bakersfield. It was my second year there. I was teaching at Arven High School. I met Henry on a blind date. It was love at first sight. Hank and I were engaged in February and married August 25, 1951. It was the beginning of decades of close frequent togetherness, early on with our children, then later just the four of us- Mike and Lucille, Hank and I. We criss - crossed the United States time and again. Mike an Hank shared the driving, Lucille an I shared the back seat. We flew to Spain an Africa for two weeks of glorious sightseeing . When not traveling together, we were always telephone close with frequent calls between California an Arizona. Henry died almost five years ago. Now Mike. I'll always miss them. I am thankful for the everlasting memories Lucille an I share! Ill miss you Mike! Love Bette Frazier

Some of the most memorable family vacations were spent with Uncle Mike and Aunt Lucille. Early in my life they had Johnny Paul and later Marc came along six months before my second child James. Sightseeing in CA, swimming in the family pool, visiting Disneyland or the beach, those marvelous vacations were fantastic experiences. After Mike retired and they moved to Scottsdale, he was free to serve as tour guide for his beloved city and state. My mother Wanda, Lucille's sister, and I would visit and catch up on family news while Mike drove us on grand tours, always including the best restaurants. He was always trying to give us all the very best of times--and he succeeded. He has been a huge role model in his courageous fight against tremendous health challenges, and we applaud him for his courage. Thank you Uncle Mike for every trip, every memory. We wont forget them or you. Until we meet again, we know you and my Dad are on the links in heaven, awaiting our time to meet up and be together again--another heavenly vacation, this time for eternity.

Some of my loving memories of my Dad,
Last time we visited Mom and Dad he called me Max…. just after he said that, I saw that grin of his, you know the one. He was pulling my leg. Just as soon as he said it, he looked over to Mon and said that’s John isn’t it. Barb my wife said "that's John," that was his little joke, he just loved to do thing like that. He also loved his golf, traveling, and being out and about or with his gadgets.
He seemed to never forget a persons name and their family ounce he had met them. We were at Disneyland. Our families first trip there with my young son Paul. Just then Dad takes a couple of steps awayfrom us and goes over to a man that I didn’t recognize. Then he said" how have you been Larry? How’s your wife Judy and your two sons (by their names I might add)." The man was just as taken back as I was. He didn’t have a clue. Dad refreshed his memory," Boy Scouts remember? We went camping to Dead man’s Point together". That was at least 14 yrs earlier. Dad never missed a chance to greet a person he knew. He did that all the time.
Dad also liked to be spontaneous. When I was about 7yr old the first trip I remember was to Yosemite. The trip started one evening when Frankie Polizzi, Dad s cousin, said" let go out and get a cup of coffee" Dad said, "okay let’s go," Frankie said" go pack some things because the coffee shop is in Yosemite." Well we drove most of the night and the next day we were climbing up Half Dome. That trip was almost our demise at an early age. The hiking trail that goes up to the top of Half Dome was not marked as well marked as it is now. We took a wrong turn and missed the switch back of the actual trail. There we were going along a path that got smaller and smaller. Soon we ran out of trail and look back to see the trail we missed with not much below us but air, we made a u-turn and went back to the right trail. From that moment on I climbed around the top of the rock dome on my hands and knees. Marc my brother still has the 8mm film of this; OH my gosh, I was so scared of being that high. I survived though and took up flying later in college and on my first solo flight in a Cessna trainer Dad insisted I fly over our house on in Hacienda Heights. I did and Dad ran out with a big white sheet waving it madly at me, while I was wagging the wings of the my airplane.
So many memories, these stories are a few of the ones that stand out in my mind along with many many more. We will all miss him.
Forever remembered and love
Lovingly,
John Burgio

I will miss you Grandpa. I will miss the way you use to wrap my Christmas gifts in a crazy fashion. You could just give me an empty box but your gift was always the best because you personalized it in a way that made me feel special. I also enjoyed all the pranks you played on Marc. Finally you taught me about classic westerns and the great singers, Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. I loved hearing you sing That's Amore. In the words of Sinatra.

"Your face beams in my dreams
'Spite of all I do
Everything seems to bring
Memories of you"

Thank you for the laughter, love, and memories.

You will always be Loved and missed Uncle Frank. xo

Uncle Mike was my favorite uncle! He was always in a great mood an made everyone laugh! My favorite memories were all the wonderful vacations we shared, from Lake Powell to Winchester Bay to my favorite the bar M dude ranch! watching my dad an uncle mike being cowboys, an don't forget aunt Lucille an my mother getting there cowgirl on! Uncle Mike you will be dearly missed ! I know you an my dad are up there cracking jokes an watching over us.

Mike and I were married for almost 68 years, and they were wonderful and happy years, of course there were some sad times along the way but we weathered them together. Mike and I always agreed that we had done everything we always wanted to do. What valiant battles he fought with his illnesses but he never forgot to tell me he loved me every single day and I will always miss him dearly.

He was an amazing father! If I could talk for a straight month, I couldn't begin to cover all the wonderful things he did--not only for myself, but for family and friends; sometimes, even complete strangers. I'll miss his loving kindness, friendship, warmth--and needless to say--his rollicking sense of humor!  His inspiring and ceaseless courage in face of continual illness was a marvel to behold: he battled cancer off and on for 22 years (repeatedly into remission) and dementia for a quarter of that time. In the end, he beat cancer and died of natural causes watching a golf tournament on TV: the way he would have wanted it. Dad, I will miss you and love you every day of my life. As Bob Hope would say: thanks for the memories!