Barry John Burger after a short illness passed away peacefully with friends at his home in Sitka, Alaska on Dec. 8, 2014. He was 60.
He was born on April 22, 1954, in Hamburg, N.Y. He attended the California College of Arts, where he studied jewelry-making, stone-setting and engraving, and sold his original designs through Metal Arts Group.
After moving to Sitka, he became caretaker at Biorka Island for SEARHC, and the next 12 years were a happy time for him. He loved nature and animals, and when Sitka veterinarian Dr. Burgess Bauder brought him orphaned fawns to raise, Barry became known by his friends as “the deer whisperer.” The deer would nuzzle him, and come when he called their names, a friend said. All the deer reverted to the wild, but they wore pink collars so hunters would know they weren’t to be targeted.
About two years ago, Barry moved from Biorka to Hood Bay, near Angoon, to be a caretaker for yet another remote property in another beautiful place. There, he befriended a marten (Ron Marten), and a squirrel (Ticky), among others.
Barry was preceded in death by his father, Eugene “Jack” Burger, and his brother, Bruce Burger.
He is survived by his mother, Ingrid Burger of New York; brother Roy (Shauna) of Kentucky; sister Debra Batorski (Jeff) of New York; nieces and nephews Dawn (Lewis Sexton), Shawn Burger (Kristin), Christopher, Mark and Kevin Batorski; and great-nieces and great-nephews Cooper, Emma and Reid Sexton, Shawn Jr. and Ashlynn Burger.
Also surviving are his best of friends Charlie and Jan Clark, Burgess Bauder and Vicky Vosburg, of Sitka; Toni Thurling of Tahoe City, Calif., and many other beloved friends.
A memorial service will be held in the spring on Biorka Island, with family and friends.
Donations may be made to the National Brain Tumor Society at http:www.ivyfoundation.,org/about-us/.
