Luis Michael Burgos (Louie), 68, passed away at home on Friday, June 28, 2024, in the loving arms of his wife and children. He had faced a long battle with pancreatic cancer and endured the many treatments offered, aiming always to have more time with his family. His passing has left them heartbroken. 

Born and raised in Lowell, Massachusetts, Louie was the son of Emily (Faria) and Luis G. Burgos. He lost his beloved mother in 1980 and his dear father in 2021. Two brothers, William and Benny Brodeur also predeceased him. Louie is survived by those who truly loved him and walked his journey with him in some capacity; his wife and soulmate, Barbara (Schickel) and beloved children, Matthew and Rachel; Barbara’s sister, Maureen Deiana, (and his sister too, he always said), dear husband Jeff and their children Shannon and Nathan, his godchildren; his beloved aunt, Evelyn Dixon; and his dear and beloved cousins, the keepers of shared and cherished childhood memories, Eleanor Thornhill, Joyce Campagnone, Patricia Crawford, and Deb Andreoli; other extended and much loved family members including Tom and Sharon Hunt Schickel and Sarah Manring and family; many loving relatives here and in Arizona, including his brother, Russ Brodeur and family, his aunt, Rachel Arroyo (Rudy) and his uncle, Albert Burgos (Frances) and their families; friends there through it all; Patricia (Sis) Lastella (Sue), Cynthia Barakatt (Rich), Jane Dooley (Tom), Michelle Maietta (Mike) and Dave and Ann Beaudoin and their families…. and so many close, wonderful, beloved friends here, around the country, and the world. With each, he made wonderful memories, and no matter time or distance, held them close to his heart.

Louie had a commanding presence and was a world-class speaker in the computer sales industry, traveling far and wide as a sought-after consultant. He enjoyed his career immensely, was intensely dedicated, and he had a work ethic that he passed onto his children. With a resume that read like a Who’s Who of the computer industry, he found his professional niche in sharing knowledge to improve sales performance. His generosity and graciousness as a teacher and mentor earned him praise from clients and colleagues, and more importantly to Louie, endeared him to many who became lifelong friends. 

He and Barbara launched a consulting business in 2003, turning the massive layoffs of that time into opportunity as they worked together to build the clientele and services into everything he imagined it could be. Imagining what could be and making it happen also served him well when he first met Barbara at Digital Equipment Corporation 43 years ago. He always said he knew immediately that they were meant to be together. He was a one-in-a-million husband and father (Papa Bear), the epitome of sentimentality, thoughtful and caring in words and deeds, with no detail too small to tend. His wife and children recalled many lovely things he would do to show his love for them and to encourage them all to share their talents with the world, including giving each a copy of “The World According to Mr. Rogers,” highlighting special quotes for each of them with a handwritten personal love note inside expressing how amazing and complicated life can be but how kindness and strength and love can help maneuver us through anything. ‘In the external scheme of things, shining moments are as brief as the twinkling of an eye, yet such twinklings are what eternity is made of—moments when we human beings can say “I love you”, “I’m proud of you,” “I forgive you, "I’m grateful for you.” That’s what eternity is made of: invisible, imperishable good stuff.’

"~ Mr. Rogers 

 

Louie was a bright, loving, caring, funny, and clever, very hardworking man with an amazing sense of humor and a love for making things happen ... tenacious and determined, mixed with his unique mischievous nature…always kept people on their toes for sure. And he loved to cook and feed people…a skill and a desire that began with his parents who both loved making their special dishes with much love and care. Barbara joked that her Mom thought he was a much better cook than she was and even though, with Louie’s guidance, she caught up to his abilities, her Mom always thought if something tasted amazing that Louie must have made it. 

For Louie and Barbara, the tradition of cooking and sharing food and making memories with family and friends was ever present in their lives — from their first little apartment in Leominster, to the home they built in Westminster for their children, to the home they moved to in Arizona to be closer to his Dad, who moved there after Emily’s passing, and finally back to their Massachusetts home since 2015.   Family meals, game nights, movie nights, birthdays, holidays, celebrations, graduations, or just-because days, Louie delighted in finding and sharing the right menu, music, and, of course, themed napkins. 

He was most proud of Matthew and Rachel and everything they have accomplished, of course, but more so because they are wonderful, beautiful people with integrity and compassion. And oh, how he loved football. Go Patriots.  Picture jump-up-and-down, make-the-house-shake love of the Patriots--and not just as champions but in the days of working hard, failing but striving to be better.  Louie was loyal in football and in life.

Louie appreciated the gifts of his life with his whole being and his wife and children appreciated and adored him. Most of all, Louie had a big heart. He felt things deeply and acted according to his moral compass. He spoke his mind. He was always there for family, friend and stranger alike, because he felt we are all connected. He loved meeting new people even as he nurtured long time relationships, and he valued community. He invested time and resources to causes he held dear. He loved people and valued kindness. He prayed intently for unity in these recent divisive times and had high hopes for getting back to basic kindness, understanding, and true human connection.

His thoughtfulness, love, and care did not wane in the last several months of his life, writing a letter for his children to give their mother at the time of his passing. Each line more beautiful than the next, it was a final gift to the love of his life. Sweet, silly, sentimental, deep, and deliberate in his intentions, including sharing his belief that they would meet again. “Look for me, Barbara. I will be the chubby boy with the moustache.”

Per his wishes, a Celebration of Life will be held later this summer.

The family would like to thank Central Care VNA and Hospice, especially their nurse, Kelsey, for her sincere and heartfelt caring and help in a most difficult time.

To honor Louie, donations can be made in his memory to World Central Kitchen, an organization he admired and connected to as a cook with a larger-than-life spirit and sense of shared humanity. 

Donate - World Central Kitchen, donate.wck.org If you would like to let the Burgos family know of your donation, you can insert the email LMBurgos68@gmail.com on the WCK donation form. Thank You.