Aug 6, 1933 - Jun 9, 2011

Gloria Gonzalez Burchard passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by her children on June 9th and was buried at sea on June 17, 2011. She was a mother, grandmother, friend and longtime educator with San Francisco's Unified School District. 

She was born during the Depression as one of twelve children to Mexican laborers and farmers. She spent most of her life working towards achieving a better education and educating the next generation. She learned English and was a top student at Claremont High School. She was a graduate of Pomona College and the University of California, Berkeley. She valued hard work, education and she had a special passion for helping disadvantaged children pursue an education regardless of their race, gender, nationality or religion. She believed in those individuals who have dedicated themselves to education and to the betterment of society. She asked her children to honor this commitment. 

Her family would like to thank her friends and neighbors of San Francisco's Bernal Heights Neighborhood for their love and support. 

In lieu of flowers our family requests that you make a donation to a scholarship fund to support college students. Donations can be made to: Eustacio Torres Scholarship Fund, SF State University Athletics, 1600 Holloway Ave., Gym 102 SF, CA, 94132 

~ Published in San Francisco Chronicle on June 26, 2011