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BURTON HIRSCH Obituary
92, of Squirrel Hill, passed away on Monday, June 13, 2011. He was the loving husband for 67 years of the late Ruth (Leff) Hirsch; beloved father of Maxine Hirsch Petteway and the late Loren Hirsch. In addition to his daughter he is survived by cousins and many friends. Mr. and Mrs. Hirsch were beloved members of the Squirrel Hill community and were the founders and owners of the former Burton L. Hirsch Funeral Home, Inc. Mr. Hirsch was a graduate of Shady Side Academy and the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science, from which he was later awarded an honorary doctorate. Mr. Hirsch was a member by invitation of the National Selected Morticians, now the Selected Independent Funeral Homes, member and past president of the Jewish Funeral Directors of America and was a member and past chairman of the Pennsylvania State Board of Funeral Directors. Mr. Hirsch was an active and longtime member of the Rodef Shalom Congregation, B'nai Zion and was very active in the Jewish National Fund in Pittsburgh. A graveside service will be held on Wednesday at 1 p.m. in the West View Cemetery of Rodef Shalom Congregation. Donations may be made in his memory to the Loren R. Hirsch Bereavement Program, c/o Jewish Community Center of Pittsburgh, 5738 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh, Pa 15217 or Sivitz Jewish Hospice, 200 JHF Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15217. Arrangements by H.P. BRANDT FUNERAL HOME, INC. Condolences can be registered at
www.brandtfuneralhome.com
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April 24, 2012
Thank You, Mr. Hirsch for the opportunities and the skills and lessons gave us. I am truly greatful and deeply saddened by your loss.
What you learned from Burton L. Hirsch is applied to your whole life.
Tim Cotton, Ohio
Nancy Alpern
July 4, 2011
Dear Maxine,
I was truly saddened to hear of your father's passing. I have such fond memories of him taking photographs everywhere he went and still have several he took at JLW. His memory and joie de vive will live on in everyone he touched. My very deepest sympathy...
Estelle Kruman
June 15, 2011
With deepest sympathy.
Gary Schoonover
June 15, 2011
I was another of the many students who lived and worked at the Burton L. Hirsch Funeral Home while attending the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science in Oakland. As a small town country boy, some of Mr. Hirsch's methods seemed strange to me but he was the consumate professional and as I grow older in the profession I appreciate more the lesson learned under BLH.
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Shirley Pavlischak
June 15, 2011
I had the honor & privledge to work as the office manager for Mr & Mrs Hirsch for 11 years. I have great memories of my time spent at the funeral home and learned many things from Mr Hirsch that will last me a lifetime. He was the ultimate professional. His passing marks the end of a by gone era in funeral service.
John Horan
June 15, 2011
Attending Selected (then it was NSM) meetings in the 80's, I was just a kid. I recall Burton taking special interest in me, what I was doing and where I was going in my life and career. He was encouraging and offered support. Many years later, Burton kindly sponsored my Shalom Funeral Service into JFDA. Though I am not Jewish, I think of Burton as a mensch. May he rest in peace and be recognized in eternity for all the good deeds he performed in this life.
Scott Beinhauer
June 14, 2011
I have nothing but respect and admiration for Mr. Hirsch. He provided many young minds an opportunity to learn and craft our profession. I am grateful for the time that I spent working for Mr. and Mrs. Hirsch.
June 14, 2011
To the Hirsch family,
I have very fond memories of Burton and Ruth. I also remember at NSM meetings my mother and Burton dancing. A great sense of humor and also an extremely humble and wise man was he. My folks had a great time on the NSM board with your parents. We have lost another great funeral director.
Rick Allnutt
Allnutt Funeral Service
Greeley, Colorado
Dean Scarpa
June 14, 2011
I was an intern at the BLH Funeral Home in 1974 while attending Ptts. Inst. Mort. Sci. I held Mr. H. as the gold standard for all things proper and professional. So many times durng my life I have asked myself "how would Mr. Hirsch" do it?"...You were blessed to have him for so long. I was blessed to have known him.
My deepest sympathy ..
Bill Sellers
June 14, 2011
Burton and Ruth were lifelong friends of my parents Bob & Marcella and attended many NSM meetings with them over the years. When I was a "newbie" NSMer, before the Under 40 Group was formed, he and Dave Burton took me under their wings and showed the ropes and what it meant to be an NSMer. I agree with Mark Higgins that he was a teacher and mentor to so many of us, and we can all thank him deeply for helping us to elevate our profession.
June 14, 2011
Dear Maxine: I was very saddened to read of your father's passing. Please accept my deepest condolences. May you know no further anguish, Jeff Pollock, Esq., Sq. Hill
Mark Higgins
June 14, 2011
Burton stood tall among us in funeral service. He was a leader, innovator and a superb citizen of his community. Burton's energy and enthusiasm were boundless! His mind was curious and fertile, what with his knowledge of wine and skill in photography. He was a teacher and mentor to so many of us who admired his accomplishments. And, what a stunning couple were Burton & Ruth - gracious, classy and thoughtful. May God welcome him and keep his memory alive among all of us who loved this fine man.
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1032 Perry Highway, Pittsburgh, PA 15237
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