2017 -- H 5336

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES TO THE BURBELO FAMILY ON THE PASSING OF

GREGORY M. BURBELO, MD.

     Introduced By: Representatives Azzinaro, Solomon, Price, Edwards, and Chippendale

     Date Introduced: February 01, 2017

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, Gregory M. Burbelo, MD., passed away at his home on January 23, 2017, at

the age of 93. He was a beloved father, grandfather, physician and friend; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Burbelo was born in the village of Sokal, Ukraine, in 1923. He

graduated from high school in the midst of the Second World War and joined his four siblings in

fleeing the communist invasion of his homeland in 1942. They eventually moved to Bavaria and

that's where Dr. Burbelo learned to speak English as he cleaned pots and pans for the United

States military; and

     WHEREAS, Dr. Burbelo eventually graduated from Erlangen Medical School and

shortly thereafter, he immigrated to the United States with his wife, Elsa, who predeceased him in

1974, to complete his internal medical residency. Dr. Burbelo moved to Block Island where he

had to walk throughout the Island to treat his patients. He charged three dollars for an office visit

and five dollars for a house call; and

     WHEREAS, Several years after he began his practice on Block Island, Dr. Burbelo

moved to Westerly where he practiced medicine on Elm Street and later, Crestview Drive. For

close to forty years, he practiced medicine in Westerly and was a beloved and trusted figure in the

community. He, along with his wife Lilian, who predeceased him in 1990, enjoyed playing

tennis, traveling, tending to their garden, and the daily joys of family life; and

     WHEREAS, Dr. Burbelo spoke five languages and was a larger-than-life figure who was

a magnificent storyteller capable of spellbinding an audience with his narratives. He never forgot

his roots and was a devoted philanthropist to his homeland, the Ukraine. He wrote passionate

newspaper articles about the atrocities committed by various Soviet and Russian regimes. One

summer during his retirement, Dr. Burbelo, while recovering from a cardiac bypass, volunteered

his medical services not far from the Chernobyl nuclear power disaster area. He later said that this

was "one of the most rewarding facets of his life"; and

     WHEREAS, Dr. Burbelo is survived by his six children, Andrew Burbelo, Mark Burbelo,

Peter Burbelo, Thaissa Klimavicz, Gregory Burbelo, and Daria Burbelo, and eleven

grandchildren; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby expresses its condolences to the Burbelo Family on the passing of

Gregory M. Burbelo, MD.; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Andrew Burbelo, Mark Burbelo, Peter Burbelo,

Thaissa Klimavicz, Gregory Burbelo, and Daria Burbelo.

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