Gary Paul Burgess

Gary was born and raised in Auburn, Massachusetts. He is predeceased by his father, Keene Burgess. Gary is survived by his mother Dorothy (Zecker) Burgess of Tewksbury, MA; his older brother Wayne Burgess and sister-in-law Diane Burgess of Hinesburg, VT; his younger brother Steven Burgess and sister-in-law Gabriela Burgess of Lynnfield, MA; his youngest brother Brian Burgess and sister-in-law
Lucy Burgess of Derry, NH, and many nieces and nephews — all of whom miss him greatly.

Gary graduated from Auburn High School in 1974 and went on to study architecture at Carnegie Mellon University. But his passion for the culinary arts took him in a different direction. He worked in the restaurant and hospitality industry for most of his life, most recently at Villa Cristina’s in Atlanta, GA, where he spent the past two decades.

Gary was passionate about cooking for family and friends. He found great joy in tackling complex cooking techniques, whether they proved successful or not. He never failed to impress with the variety of dishes he shared at holiday gatherings. His easy-going nature and quick smile will be missed, as will his thoughtful and sensitive intellect. Conversations with him would often lead to a deep dive on an eclectic mix of issues and subjects.

Gary had a wide variety of interests, from home remodeling to exploring swamplands in the South. The stories and pictures from his many swampland vacations with friends were always entertaining.

No services are planned at this time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A memorial service will take place at a future date.

In lieu of flowers, his family requests that friends make contributions in his memory to the American Cancer Society if desired, at cancer.org.