Submitted by Fran Olson Gustafson 1965 <fgustafson917@gmail.com>
on 03/Apr/2023
71.223.129.143
Harvey J. Burger, Jr. born October 27, 1931 to the late
Harvey & Emma Burger, grew up in the city of Newburgh,
NY among his 3 sisters (Dorothea, Veester, Bernice) and 1
brother (Frederick). At the age of 13 upon the passing of
his Dad, his aunt (Laura Brown) began to raise him in her
household. During this time, his lifelong relationship with
the Lewis Family began. Harvey attended schools within the
City of Newburgh and would make you well aware of the fact
that in the 12th grade he scored the highest grade (95%) on
the trigonometry regent's exam. He was always a "debater"
and well known for his academic acumen. On October 14, 1951,
Harvey married his sweetheart Luzetta Polk. In 1953 at the
ages of 21 and 19, Harvey and Luzetta purchased 252
Montgomery Street where they proudly raised their 3
children: Harvey J. Burger III, Hamilton J. Burger and
Gwendolyn Burger-Taylor. This property has been established
as the Burger Family Residence for the last 70 years. Never
a stranger to hard work and always up for a challenge, it's
no surprise that Harvey worked full time at Master Tile, was
the Shop Steward, ran Community Workers Association "CWA"
(We know it today as The Glenn Hines Center) all while
studying and managing to graduate from the State University
of New York at New Paltz. He then went further to pursue and
earn his law degree from Rutgers Law School in 1977. He was
not alone during his commutes to Rutgers. He was accompanied
by Harold Ramsey, who became the first African American
judge in Newburgh, NY. Harvey had a passion for improving
his community and the people that live in that community.
Hence he became a Scout Master for the Boy Scouts, coached
the Glenn Hines basketball & softball teams and did the
same at the Goshen Annex School for Boys. For over 15 years,
he served as President of the local NAACP and held the
position of Executive Director of the Glenn E. Hines Center
for approximately 30 years. If asked who he admired when he
was younger he would answer without hesitation: "Glenn E.
Hines". Mr. Burger has a vast political history and retired
a few years ago from the Orange County Legislature after
serving 19 years on myriad caucuses and non-legislative
committees including Former Chair of Labor Relations
Advisory Committee and member of the Ways & Means
Committee of the Orange County Legislature. In an effort to
revitalize the Liberty Street block between South Street
& Gidney Avenue, Mr. Burger invested in 2 businesses
that he owned and operated: Burger's Fish & Chips and
Burger's Wines & Spirits. He and his cronies formed the
corporation, "Brave New Focus" and basically "adopted" the
above mentioned block of Liberty Street, replacing the
blight of abandoned buildings and decay with new businesses
and affordable housing. Mr. Burger was a member of the
Ebenezer Baptist Church where he previously served as a
Trustee. He is predeceased by his parents Harvey & Emma,
his loving & devoted wife Luzetta, his son Harvey III,
his daughter Gwendolyn, his 3 sisters - Dorothea, Veester
& Bernice and his brother Frederick. Harvey leaves to
cherish his memory, his caregiver & loving son Hamilton
(Hammy), grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Mr. Burger
will be remembered for his years of devotion &
dedication to the City of Newburgh. As per Hammy, "You're
still the smartest man I know". Mr. Burger will have a
visitation 10:00 am – 12 Noon, Wednesday, April 5, 2023 at
Ebenezer Baptist Church, 76 First Street, Newburgh, NY.
Funeral Service 12:00 Noon at the church, Bishop Jeffrey C.
Woody will officiate. Interment at Cedar Hill Cemetery,
Newburgh, NY. Professional services entrusted to Rhodes
Funeral Homes, 259 Walsh Ave., New Windsor, NY, "Committed
To Being The Very Best" Call us anytime 845-569-1233. Posted
online on April 03, 2023 Published in Middletown Times
Herald-Record
Harvey J. Burger, Jr. born October 27, 1931 to the late
Harvey & Emma Burger, grew up in the city of Newburgh,
NY among his 3 sisters (Dorothea, Veester, Bernice) and 1
brother (Frederick). At the age of 13 upon the passing of
his Dad, his aunt (Laura Brown) began to raise him in her
household. During this time, his lifelong relationship with
the Lewis Family began. Harvey attended schools within the
City of Newburgh and would make you well aware of the fact
that in the 12th grade he scored the highest grade (95%) on
the trigonometry regent's exam. He was always a "debater"
and well known for his academic acumen. On October 14, 1951,
Harvey married his sweetheart Luzetta Polk. In 1953 at the
ages of 21 and 19, Harvey and Luzetta purchased 252
Montgomery Street where they proudly raised their 3
children: Harvey J. Burger III, Hamilton J. Burger and
Gwendolyn Burger-Taylor. This property has been established
as the Burger Family Residence for the last 70 years. Never
a stranger to hard work and always up for a challenge, it's
no surprise that Harvey worked full time at Master Tile, was
the Shop Steward, ran Community Workers Association "CWA"
(We know it today as The Glenn Hines Center) all while
studying and managing to graduate from the State University
of New York at New Paltz. He then went further to pursue and
earn his law degree from Rutgers Law School in 1977. He was
not alone during his commutes to Rutgers. He was accompanied
by Harold Ramsey, who became the first African American
judge in Newburgh, NY. Harvey had a passion for improving
his community and the people that live in that community.
Hence he became a Scout Master for the Boy Scouts, coached
the Glenn Hines basketball & softball teams and did the
same at the Goshen Annex School for Boys. For over 15 years,
he served as President of the local NAACP and held the
position of Executive Director of the Glenn E. Hines Center
for approximately 30 years. If asked who he admired when he
was younger he would answer without hesitation: "Glenn E.
Hines". Mr. Burger has a vast political history and retired
a few years ago from the Orange County Legislature after
serving 19 years on myriad caucuses and non-legislative
committees including Former Chair of Labor Relations
Advisory Committee and member of the Ways & Means
Committee of the Orange County Legislature. In an effort to
revitalize the Liberty Street block between South Street
& Gidney Avenue, Mr. Burger invested in 2 businesses
that he owned and operated: Burger's Fish & Chips and
Burger's Wines & Spirits. He and his cronies formed the
corporation, "Brave New Focus" and basically "adopted" the
above mentioned block of Liberty Street, replacing the
blight of abandoned buildings and decay with new businesses
and affordable housing. Mr. Burger was a member of the
Ebenezer Baptist Church where he previously served as a
Trustee. He is predeceased by his parents Harvey & Emma,
his loving & devoted wife Luzetta, his son Harvey III,
his daughter Gwendolyn, his 3 sisters - Dorothea, Veester
& Bernice and his brother Frederick. Harvey leaves to
cherish his memory, his caregiver & loving son Hamilton
(Hammy), grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Mr. Burger
will be remembered for his years of devotion &
dedication to the City of Newburgh. As per Hammy, "You're
still the smartest man I know". Mr. Burger will have a
visitation 10:00 am – 12 Noon, Wednesday, April 5, 2023 at
Ebenezer Baptist Church, 76 First Street, Newburgh, NY.
Funeral Service 12:00 Noon at the church, Bishop Jeffrey C.
Woody will officiate. Interment at Cedar Hill Cemetery,
Newburgh, NY. Professional services entrusted to Rhodes
Funeral Homes, 259 Walsh Ave., New Windsor, NY, "Committed
To Being The Very Best" Call us anytime 845-569-1233. Posted
online on April 03, 2023 Published in Middletown Times
Herald-Record