Beryl "Billie" Burdick
Born 1920 in Hempstead, NY
Died 7/1/2011 in Boston, MA
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Beryl "Billie" Burdick July 1, 2011 Mrs. Beryl Harvey Burdick, 91, formerly of Syracuse, NY, died Friday, July 1, in Boston, MA. She was the wife of Dr. Daniel Burdick, whom she married in 1949. Born February 18, 1920, in Hempstead, NY, she was the daughter of the late Harold and Dorothy Harvey. Mrs. Burdick was raised in Easton, PA, where she graduated from Easton High School. She attended Connecticut College in New London, CT, and New York University, where she graduated in 1941 in retailing with a minor in English and music. Mrs. Burdick worked in personnel for Martins Department Store in Brooklyn, NY, and Bloomingdales, NYC, until she met her husband and moved to Syracuse, NY, in 1949. Active in the Syracuse community for many years, in particular with youth programs, Mrs. Burdick began her volunteer work with the Dunbar Center, an organization that exposed her to the problems of low-income and minority families. She later served as the first president of the Dunbar Auxiliary. Mrs. Burdick was the prime mover behind the founding of Youth Opportunities Unlimited (YOU), a program to encourage young people to stay in shcool. She was instrumental in starting the Foundation to Advance Arts and Athletics in Syracuse (FAAAS), which came to the aid of city schools that were suffering from cuts in arts and athletics. She served as the first president of FAAAS, devoting hundreds of volunteer hours to promote arts and athletic programs in city schools. Literacy was another cornerstone of Mrs. Burdicks volunteer activities. She was active with Literacy Volunteers, in particular offering literacy opportunities to minority students. In later years, due to her love of music, Mrs. Burdick was an active volunteer with the Society for New Music, an organization dedicated to bringing new music to the community. Mrs. Burdick was once called a "modest heroine," never wanting the focus to be on her but rather always letting others take credit for much of the work she had done. Due to her many community activities, Mrs. Burdick had been the recipient of numerous awards; in 1962 she was named the Post-Standard Woman of Achievement in youth development. She received the Onondaga County Bar Association\\'s Annual Youth Service Award. In 1984 Mrs. Burdick received the highest award of the National Council of Jewish Women, the Hannah G. Solomon sculpture, which recognizes a woman who has improved the quality of life for people of all ages and backgrounds, a woman who has motivated others to fight for change. Survivors in addition to her husband are five children, Amy Burdick of Chestnut Hill, MA, Janet Burdick Rosen of Newton, MA, Joseph Burdick of Lakewood, CO, David Burdick of Edwardsville, IL, and Lisa Burdick Yoder and husband Albert W. of Treasure Island, FL. Mrs. Burdick is also survived by three grandchildren, Kimberly Rosen, Althea Burdick and Jessica Yoder. The family will receive friends at 10:30 a.m. Monday, July 4, at Temple Adath Yeshurun, 450 Kimber Road, Syracuse, followed by a service at the temple at 11:30 a.m. Burial will be at the convenience of the family. Contributions may be made to the Society for New Music, 438 Brookford Road, Syracuse, NY 13224. Birnbaum Funeral Service, Inc.

Published in the Syracuse Post Standard on July 3, 2011
 
Burial Location
C10E
 
Spouse
Dr. Daniel Burdick MD Veteran 
Born 10/21/1915 in Syracuse, NY
Died 4/25/2012 in Boston, MA
 
Father
Harold Harvey
 
Mother
Dorothy Harvey