DENNIS ROLAND BURGESS's Obituary
BURGESS
Dennis Roland, 66, of Coconut Grove was born in Miami on October 10, 1948 to Berney and Margaret (Matthews) Burgess and died August 1, 2015, following a ferocious and untreatable onset of liver cancer. Mr. Burgess was a lifelong resident of South Florida from where he pursued his many passions: boating, fishing, stunt flying, adventure and world travel. After graduating from FIU, Dennis entered the insurance industry and at the time of his death had been for 35 years an agent with State Farm. He was the consummate waterman, building his first boat when he was twelve and taking up swimming, diving, sailing, boating and fishing at an even earlier age. Dennis was by far the happiest when he was on one of his boats in the company of friends, all lines in the water. Dennis Burgess was civic-minded and big-hearted and well known for his generosity and steadfast friendships. For years he served on the Jr. Orange Bowl Committee in Coral Gables and funded an array of charitable causes both large and small, many anonymously. Besides his parents, Dennis is survived by his life partner and best friend, Mary Lipscomb Hartley, a son Dennis Matthew Burgess from his marriage to Linda Joyce Lumpkin that ended in divorce, and a sister Linda Burgess Dunlap. In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to koacarecamps.org helping children with cancer or shakealegmiami.org providing people with disabilities opportunities to enjoy Miami’s marine environment. A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, August 15th at 2 pm followed by refreshments at VAN ORSDEL CORAL GABLES CHAPEL. In keeping with his wishes, Dennis Burgess’ ashes will rest in the sea. His singularly, hearty and infectious laugh betrayed a zest for life that will be long remembered.
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