Burton Kibler Sirota

1959 - 2021

Burton (Burt) Kibler Sirota, cherished son, brother and friend, died from respiratory failure and cancer on Sunday, December 20, 2020.


Born October 11, 1959, in Berea, Ohio to Burton Louis Sirota (predeceased) and Alice Kibler MacWilkinson, Burt has one older sibling–Susan Adele Sirota. Burt spent his early childhood in Ohio and Pennsylvania before moving to Orange County, California in 1968. Burt loved Southern California, especially the beach. He learned to body surf and later surf and knee board and was on the surf team at Estancia High School and Orange Coast College. Burt also loved basketball, the Lakers, the Rams (then and now) and the local rock band scene. Many of his longtime friends are musicians.


Writing song lyrics since high school, in his last year of life he and a good friend's band recorded one of Burt's songs. The music video is coming out soon.


During Burt's four-year journey with cancer, he charmed doctors, nurses and hospice team with his unique wit and kindness, as he has so many who know him. The night before he died, lifelong friends arranged to sing carols to him via Zoom. The last carol was Silent Night. When ""Sleep in heavenly peace"" was sung, we didn't know how soon it would be.


Burt had many friends who, like our family, are heartbroken but glad he's no longer in discomfort. This year of COVID-19, and its enforced isolation, added to his medical challenges. Yet he handled it with grace, concern and caring for others, an active Facebook community, and his great sense of humor.


Burt's early career was in the restaurant business, allowing him to enjoy a flexible schedule for surfing and music. Later he transitioned to apartment property management, following his sister and cousin Kris. He worked on the management side for prominent Orange County companies like Sares Regis, Western National and Arnel. He then found his niche selling advertising to the apartment industry, first print ads and later online advertising, with Apartment Magazine / Apartment Finder.


Burt was active in several professional organizations – particularly the Apartment Association of California Southern Cities. He taught industry training classes and during his career received several awards including South Coast Apartment Association Manager of the Year; Arnel Manager of the Year; California Southern Cities Product Service Council Member of the Year and Industry Partner of the Year.


Burt loved life and enjoyed the support of his family, friends, co-workers, and industry colleagues - so many of whom he considered friends. Burt is survived by his mother Alice MacWilkinson (Derek), sister Susan Sirota (Robert Goto), step-brothers Nigel MacWilkinson (Barbara), Philip MacWilkinson, aunt Adele Kopecky, cousin Kris Berry (David), and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.


There will be a Zoom Celebration of Life for family and friends on Sunday, January 24, 2021, from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.


Memorial donations may be made to OC Food Bank, OC Rescue Mission or Mercy House in memory of Burton Kibler Sirota.


For more information, email bksirota@gmail.com.