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Jackie Crowe (Finch)

So sad to hear the news of our dear classmate, Gerry.   Bless you and Charlie and family, many prayers!!    Hugs

Scotty Croom

lynn and charley,so sorry to hear about gerry..he was such a creative sctor,singer,dancer...share our love for him with his jersey friends...we will miss him....love to all,scotty

Teddie Jordan

To Charles and Lynn, two of my favorite people in the world, we are sorry to hear of the loss of Gerry. I remember his love of the stage and his great personality going back to our Waltrip days. Rest In Peace Gerry. 

Henny Banning

Charlie & Lynn,

May Gerry RIP...GOD bless him...he was

was always so full of life...great smile to

all.  So sad to learn of his death,

My prayers and thoughts for each of you.

---Henny 

Larry Reid '63

Gerry Burkhardt was a wonderful person I will always remember his warm smile, talent and spirit he was a friend to everyone he met. My prayers are with his family in their time of loss.

Diane Jaenecke (Logan)

SOOOO sorry to hear of Gerry's passing.  A wonderful person AND a great dance partner, or instantly play and sing any request.  What a talent and good friend.  He will be missed.  Diane Jaenecke Logan

Linda Webster '65 (Jennings)

Sandi Schlesinger (Stark)

I remember Gerry always smiling and he always made me laugh.  I'm so glad he had such a successful career and was able to retire to a place that he loved.  Charles and Lynn, I was so saddened to hear of his passing and my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family as he leaves this life way too soon. 

Beau Wann, Jr.

     Charlie and Lynn,  we are thinking of you in this time of grief. Gerrys' senior picture has been  imprinted on my minds screen since...highschool. What a gentle and kind soul was he.  Like so many of our class, he made one want to be a better person....a better person like he was.  

     "Green be the turf above thee,
          Friend of my better days!
       None knew thee but to love thee,
          Nor named thee but to praise.......

       While memory bids me weep thee,
           Nor thoughts nor words are free,
      The grief is fixed too deeply
           That mourns a man like thee."

First and last stanza of a poem by Fitz-Greene Halleck.....

Sharon Drapela

I remember Gerry. He was a nice and gentle person that I recall. I  walked down the hall with him one time and he made me feel special. Gerry had a kindness about him.  A very handsome guy as well. I am sorry to hear of his passing. God Bless his family and loved ones.

Sharon Drapela

Jackie Crowe (Finch)

Additional information on our dear classmate -

Actor Gerry Burkhardt, who appeared in the original 1978 Broadway production of the musical The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, in its 1982 Broadway revival, and in its 1994 sequel, The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public, died October 3 at age 71.

He made numerous Off-Broadway and national touring appearances as well, including the tour of Your Own Thingin 1969 and the Equity Library Theatre revival of Cole Porter’s Leave It to Me! in 1988.

A celebration of that life will be held on October 8 at 1 PM at the Activities Center, 1 Catholic Charities Way, Oak Ridge, New Jersey. In lieu of flowers the family is asking fans make donations to Saint Jude’s Children’s Hospital or the Cancer Research Institute of New York.

Henny Banning

Gerry~May You Rest In Peace~~~

With my thoughts and prayers,

Henny

Jimmie Sue Roach (Nation)

A lot of great and fond memories! We all loved him dearly. He had a good heart. I'm thrilled to know that his dreams were fullfilled! Rest well dear friend. Continuing prayers for the family.

Jimmie Sue

Larry Reid '63

Gerry Burkhardt was a wonderful person. While drama was his love, he also palyed drums with me for awhile in the band or was it orchestra? I always felt close to Gerry but we clearly lost touch after high school. I had no idea of all his accomplishments but I am not surprised. It is really special when you follow your dream and make it your lifes work. God bless Gerry and all those who love him.

Patty Payne (Nami)

Lynn Wren (Burkhardt)

Thank you all for your thoughts, prayers and special comments.  Gerry was indeed a very talented person with a gentle soul.  I know Gerry is excited to have his dancing knees back.  He is probably tapping his way through heaven looking for Ginger and Fred, maybe along the way he will find Elvis.  He will be missed and not forgotten.

Jackie Crowe (Finch)

Amen and indeed!!   I can just picture him dancing away in Heaven.  We all have wonderful memories of Gerry that will always be in our hearts.  God Bless Hugs

Jackie Crowe (Finch)

Reminder - Fall Fling, Saturday Oct. 28

Com'on class give Johnny a shout that you are coming!

Update - Attendees for Fall Fling as of October 17

Okay the date everyone has been waiting for!!

Mark your calendar for our Fall Fling (mini-reunion) in October

Date:  Saturday, October 28  

Place:  Goode Company BBQ

Grand Prize Banquet Room with additional outside deck (plenty of room), cash bar and chips & dips for appetizers.

Time:  4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (closing time)

Address: 20102 Northwest Freeway (Hwy 290) between 1960 and Huffmiester, Houston, 77065, Phone 832-678-3562

Please RSVP to Johnny Shieffield - 979-203-7209 or his email johnnysheffield46@gmail.com.  You can also contact me through "Contact Us" tab at top of website or put your reply on Message Forum.

If out-of-towners need a place to stay, Homeward Suites by Hilton - Northwest/Cy Fair, 13110 Wortham Center Drive, Houston, TX  77065 - 1-832-237-2000 is right next door - within walking distance to Goode Co. BBQ.

(From Highway 290 W: Take FM 1960/Highway 6 Exit, stay on service road past FM 1960 and take a right on Wortham Center Drive.

From Highway 290 E: Exit on FM 1960/Highway 6, make a U-turn, stay on service road and turn right on Wortham Center Drive.)

A Big Thanks and Hug to Johnny for coordinating our Fall Fling!

Jackie Crowe (Finch)

Just heard from Henny Banning that Ola Mae Synnott, mother of Jimmy Synnott '62, passed away.  Please keep the Synnott family in your prayers.

 

Ola Mae Synnott
1923-2017
Ola Mae Gordon Synnott, beloved wife, mother, sister and grandmother passed away October 15, 2017, into the loving arms of her heavenly father. Ola Mae was born on February 28, 1923, in Crestview, Florida, to Clyde and Ola Gordon. In 1943 she graduated from nursing school at Hillman Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama. She met the love of her life there, James Dale Synnott, M.D., and they were married on June 16, 1943. Upon his return from service in Europe, they moved to Houston, Texas, and settled in Garden Oaks. Ola Mae went to work as his nurse in the early sixties, when many women stayed at home. She loved the families in his practice and had a bulletin board with their children's school pictures. They retired in 1983 and she took care of James until his death in 2001. Ola Mae loved her church, Our Savior Lutheran, her family, her many friends and was always ready to help in any way she could. She coordinated the meals for all the church funerals for many years and was a member of the Night Circle and the Circle of Grace. 
Ola Mae is survived by her children: James Dale Synnott Jr., Sue Rose and husband Lee, Roger Synnott and wife Susan, Mary Ellen Cone and husband Michael, and grandchildren: Ryan Synnott and wife Natalie, Brad Synnott and wife Allie, Matthew Synnott and wife Anna and James Rose and wife Amanda, nine great-grandchildren, her devoted sister, Margarete Tyre and husband Isaac and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be Thursday, October 19, 2017, at Pat H. Foley Funeral Home from 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. The funeral service will be conducted on Friday, October 20, 2017, at 10:00 A.M. at Our Savior Lutheran Church, 5000 W. Tidwell. In addition to floral tributes, memorial contributions may be directed to the Our Savior Lutheran Church 500th Anniversary of the Reformation Fund.  

Published in Houston Chronicle on Oct. 18, 2017

Kay Watters '65 (Greene)

My condolences to the Synnott family.  I knew of the Synnotts - in the medical community.  However, did not know of their Lutheran faith, from what I read she worked tirelessly in her faith.  God Bless Mrs. Synnott and her family.

Johnny Sheffield

Our thoughts and prayers go out to James 

and roger and the entire synnott family. 

Mrs synnott was a wonderful person. 

God bless you all. 

Johnny

Beau Wann, Jr.

     Hello Waltripians. Just wanted to offer my condolences to the Synnott family, and to add that Dianes mom Jeanine Cunningham had a stroke last night and another one this morning.  They werent as severe as it sounds, she is still lucid, having a little trouble speakin and her left side is a tad weak. She is currently in ICU at the old Northwest Memorial Hospital, now Memorial Herman at 610 and Ella.  She has had MRIs and catscans. Diane is at the hospital with her sister Pam and their dad, and I am home holding down the fort. Seems one of us always has to remain at home to administer meds to critters, plus an hour in any vehicle just kills my body. Just the 10 minute drive to Brenham hurts.

    Been holding our little deaf kitty Sammy this past week, administering extra TLC.   He just died 50 minutes ago, in my arms. He went pretty fast. We knew he was on his way to the rainbow bridge, he was19.  Sure makes me sad, and I dont need sad!

Teddie Jordan

Beaucephus, so sorry to hear about Dianes' mother having strokes. Hopefully they were the TIA  variety  and leave no permanent damage. Also sorry to hear about Sammy, I know they each take a piece of your heart with them. See you next Saturday.

Ronna Brand

Beau, prayers for Diane's Mom for a speedy and complete recovery!

Greg Smith

I was just catching up on Forum posts and saw the sad news about Gerry Burkhardt. By the greatest coincidence, my wife Linda and I were in NYC in 1978 visiting some friends who had four tickets to the Broadway opening of "The Best LIttle Whorehouse in Texas". So, we were were able to see Gerry on stage that night. I looked at the program from that night and he is listed as playing three separate characters.