Eugene M. "Gene" Burns

Burns, Eugene M. "Gene" Beloved son, brother, nephew, uncle, cousin and Legendary talk radio personality Gene Burns died peacefully Saturday, May 25th, after a series of health issues. Burns was 72. Gene was born in New Brunswick, NJ, and raised in Hornell, NY. In the 1970s and 1980s, Burns hosted the "Gene Burns Program on WKIS-AM in Orlando and ended over 40 years of broadcasting at WRKO 810 AM in San Francisco, CA. He was ranked among the Top 25 Radio Talk Show hosts of all time by Talkers Magazine. To Gene, family always came first. Gene was never happier, or more truly himself, than when he was sitting around the dinner table with family and friends reminiscing about family reunions, trips, and re-telling past and present tales. Gene is predeceased by his parents Robert and Gladys Burns, and his brother Thomas. He is survived by his siblings, Margaret, Dennis, David, and Roberta Burns Riggsbee; a sister-in-law, Mary Sue Holcombe Burns, a brother-in-law, Farris Riggsbee; two nieces, Brittney Riggsbee Delancett (Michael Delancett), Charisse Burns Bitner (Adam Bitner), and two nephews, Matthew Riggsbee, and Cameron Burns. A celebration of Gene's life will take place 10 a.m., Saturday, June 8th, at the First Unitarian Church of Orlando, 1901 E. Robinson Street, Orlando, FL 32803.