COLLEGE SUPPORTER GENE BURKE, 74, DIES.Byline: Amy Raisin Staff Writer NEWHALL - Gene Burke, a Santa Clarita Valley The Santa Clarita Valley is the valley of the Santa Clara River in Southern California. It stretches through Los Angeles County and Ventura County. Its main population center is the city of Santa Clarita. The valley was part of the 48,612-acre (19,672. businessman and longtime College of the Canyons College of the Canyons is one of the fastest-growing community colleges in the state. According to the National Junior College Research Association, College of the Canyons consistently ranks in the top 50 community colleges in the nation. Foundation board member, died Tuesday after a brief battle with lung cancer lung cancer, cancer that originates in the tissues of the lungs. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States in both men and women. Like other cancers, lung cancer occurs after repeated insults to the genetic material of the cell. . He was 74. His ex-wife, Betty Oldfield, said Burke was being treated for cancer when he suffered brain damage after a fall last month in his Agua Dulce Agua Dulce is Spanish for "sweet water". It also refers to various locations: In Mexico:
``He never really regained consciousness after the fall. He never really knew where he was,'' Oldfield said. ``We knew he was being treated for cancer, but his death was very much a surprise to the family.'' Reared in Van Nuys, the grandfather of three started a catering business in 1956 with one food truck, and grew the company to what is now Santa Clarita Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, Concessions, run by the couple's daughter, Lisa Burke Lisa Burke (born 8 February, 1977) is a Sky News weather forecaster. She was born and lived in Killeshin, near the town of Carlow, Ireland until she was 10, when her family moved to Essex. Burke's father was Pipe Major of the Killeshin Pipe Band. . Burke joined the College of the Canyons Foundation Board of Directors in 1991 and served until 1997, when he was designated a board member emeritus. A founding director of Valencia National Bank, recently acquired by Union Bank, Burke was active in the Safe Rides program after his 19- year-old son was killed by a drunk driver in 1979. Safe Rides offers free rides home to teens, no questions asked. Bruce Fortine, a College of the Canyons board trustee, met Burke in the late 1960s and the two maintained a friendship until Burke's death. ``I met Gene in 1968. We go way back,'' Fortine said Wednesday. ``He ran his catering company from one little truck. I'd have a cup of coffee with him as he was collecting his money. We've been friends ever since.'' Burke is survived by daughters Lisa Burke of Saugus and Cathy Langaard of Newhall, son Michael Burke of Newhall, and grandchildren Jim and Christopher Burke and Laynee LaTorre. The public is invited to attend Burke's memorial service at noon Saturday at Eternal Valley Memorial Park, 23287 Sierra Highway Sierra Highway is a road in Southern California, United States. It runs from Tunnel Station near the north limit of the City of Los Angeles, where it intersects with San Fernando Road and Foothill Boulevard, as well as Interstate 5, and continues north to Mojave, mostly paralleling , Newhall. The College of the Canyons Foundation has established a scholarship in Burke's name. Contributions can be made to the Gene Burke Memorial Scholarship and sent to College of the Canyons Foundation, 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road, Valencia, CA 91355. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: BURKE |
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