Fred Bursch, the leader of Bursch Travel, died of cancer in December. He was 70 years old.
Bursch Travel's roots were planted in the year 1956 by Fred's parents. "Pete" and "Audrey" purchased the cafe. They started selling tickets to buses, airlines and steamships while they were operating the restaurant.
The business evolved into a full-service travel agency, featuring popular group trips.
According to a feature on him in Alexandria Alumni Magazine, before Fred was drawn to travel, he had other interests. Fred was a big fan of math and the string bass. He attended the University of Minnesota and studied computer programming. He was pursuing math again, but a particularly difficult course changed his path and he chose to become a lawyer.
After graduating from law school in 1976, he worked for a Minneapolis district court judge. Pete asked his son if he could help with the travel agency.
Fred purchased the agency in 1986.
Bursch and his wife worked at the agency. His two daughters followed in his footsteps. Bursch Travel's vice president is the third generation of Bursches to lead the company.
Fred's family remembered him as kind and generous.
"I have been blessed beyond measure to have traveled where we have traveled during our 18 years together," his wife said. When asked what their favorite place to travel to was, we always replied, "every place is special in its own way." Fred's marriage proposal to me while on a Nile river cruise is our most cherished memory.
Hawthorne's father was always with her family.
She said that he made every recital, every volleyball game, every choir concert, and every family dinner.
She said that he inspired them but also helped to guide them home. She fondly remembered a time when she told her father she would be in San Francisco for work and he hopped a plane to meet her at the airport.
"My dad was kind, caring and generous, and he was my dad," he said. The most important thing to him was the community. He would give any of his resources to help out his community.
"We are the Bursch Travel family, and we don't call each other coworkers," he said.
The travel community was fond of the man. He gave back. Fred was a member of the ASTA since 1967. He was a volunteer in his local community and was on the ASTAPAC Committee for two years.
Lee Hurd, president and CEO of Bursch Travel, said that he will be missed by many.
Alex Sharpe is the president and CEO of the Signature Travel Network.
"Fred lived a full life filled with faith, family and love of our industry and the people in it," said Sharpe. I considered Fred a mentor because of his cool hand and advice.
"We will always be proud to be associated with one of the true greats in our industry and one of the most caring people I have had the pleasure of knowing."
Fred's time on the national board of directors and his leadership of the Upper Midwest Chapter were pointed out by the executive vice president of advocacy.
He was steadfast in his support for ASTA. He was a great human being, the most gracious man anyone could meet. He volunteered to participate in our lobbying efforts on travel agency relief at a TAMS meeting last month, and I feel lucky to have been able to spend time with him. He will be missed.
Bursch is survived by his wife, children, and siblings.
There is a celebration of his life in Alexandria. On Friday, January 14, there will be a chance to visit.
