Eugene Raymond ‘Gene’ Burkard

July 7, 1930 - December 11, 2020

SAN DIEGO — Eugene Raymond Burkard, founder of one of San Diego’s most successful businesses, the International Male catalog and stores, passed away on December 11, 2020. He died at home peacefully, with his closest friends around him. He was 90 years old.

Born in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, on July 7, 1930, Eugene {Gene}, one of seven children, attended local schools and upon graduating high school, attended the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. In 1950 Gene was drafted into the United States Air Force and served stateside and in Alaska until honorably discharged in 1953.

Back in Milwaukee Gene was employed by the Milwaukee Journal newspaper and discovered he had a talent for writing marketing and sales copy. However, the excitement of travel soon beckoned and he accepted a position with the Milwaukee Schlitz Company to supply US military bases in Europe and the Middle East. Gene spent the next 9 years traveling from base to base while observing the different styles and traditions in his territories.

Returning to the U.S. in 1968, he decided to recreate some of the refreshing and exciting clothing he had seen. The result was the hugely successful mail order catalog International Male. The catalog, along with two retail operations in Los Angeles and San Diego, filled a void that had existed in the young men’s market for many years.

With the advent of the HIV crisis, Gene was instrumental in starting Mamas Kitchen, served on the board of the San Diego LGBT Community Center and was also a supporter of St. Vincent de Paul.

A writer and singer of songs with a voice reminiscent of Sinatra, Gene was always happy to host a party mainly because it gave him the opportunity to sing some of the many songs he had written. A designer, composer, singer, and philanthropist Eugene Raymond Burkard spent his life joyfully, Oh, how he will be missed!

He is survived by his long-term companion Ron Hicks of San Diego, his dearest friend of 50 years and subject of his deepest affection, Gloria Tomita, his sisters Mary Rouse of Germantown WI and Delores Bykowski of Mequon WI, and brother Carl Burkard of Skokie, IL and their families.

A Memorial service will be scheduled post Covid. The family suggests sending memorial contributions to Mama’s Kitchen, the San Diego LGBT Community Center and St. Vincent de Paul.

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