L. Dale Burmeister, 64, of Fairfield and formerly of Westport, the devoted husband of Toni Burmeister, passed away suddenly on Tuesday, May 20, 2008.
Born in Saginaw, Mich., he was a resident of Westport for almost 30 years before moving to Fairfield Beach four years ago.
Trained as a social worker, he spent most of his career as an advertising executive before finding his true calling as a grandfather in 2004.
A lover of life, Dale was known among his friends for his generous hospitality, his love of food – fine and otherwise-, his curiosity about people and interest in their well-being, and his undeterred kindness.
In recent years he also worked as a substitute teacher and a staff member of the Continuing Education program with the Westport public school system.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his loving children: Christine Burmeister Guivernau and her husband Sebastian of Portland, Ore.; Joseph L. Burmeister and his wife Lesley Steinman of Seattle, Wash.; and Jesse Burmeister, also of Seattle; his best friend of 44 years, John Davis of New York City; his mother Mary Burmeister of Midland, Mich.; his brother and sister-in-law Kenneth and Carol Burmeister of Midland; his niece Heidi Lyons and her husband Dan of Okemo, Mich.; nephew Jeremy Paul Burmeister of Denver, Colo., and three adoring grandchildren, Rafael, Luca and Alessandra Guivernau.
Friends are invited to attend a Memorial Service on Tuesday, May 27 at 4 p.m. at Christ and Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Westport. Interment is private, there are no calling hours.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to the American Heart Association, 1 Union Street, Suite 301, Robbinsville, NJ 08691 and Operation Smile, 6435 Tidewater Drive, Norfolk, VA 23509.
