Paul Burghardt Sr.

Paul Elgin Burghardt Sr.

Paul Elgin Burghardt was born in Los Angeles, California on December 19, 1943 to parents John Walter Burghardt and Pauline Olivia Evans. He attended local elementary and middle schools before entering David Starr Jordan High School as a freshman in 1957. While attending Jordan he was active in extracurricular sports such as track & field, which became a life-long love, and football. He was particularly proud of being on the track team, helping them win a statewide championship before ultimately graduating in 1961.

Growing up, Paul spent a great deal of time with his grandparents Beulah and William Evans in Palmdale, California. He enjoyed the peace and quiet of rural Palmdale and used that time to contemplate his future as a young Black man.

He joined the Air Force in 1962 and was stationed at Travis Air Force Base in Northern California. As an Airman First Class, Paul knew the key to an even brighter future would be through education. To that end, he enrolled at Solano Junior College, which was approximately 30 miles from the base. He would report for duty on the base for his overnight assignments, then go to the barracks for a few hours of sleep before heading to class the following morning. It was a grueling schedule, but he was determined to succeed.

While attending junior college, Paul met the great love of his life, Janice Bircher. They shared several classes and soon discovered how much they enjoyed spending time together discussing homework, having intellectual debates in class (where the sparks between them really began to fly) studying for exams and having lunch together. They fell in love and became man and wife on November 5, 1966. To this union Tracy, Maya and Paul Jr. were born.

Paul and Janice moved on to enroll at California State University at Hayward, to pursue their degrees. While there, Paul was recognized by many Cal State professors for his perseverance, positive attitude and willingness to speak to younger students about the value of a good education. As a result of his natural leadership and mentoring, he was offered a university position as the Director of the EOP Program (Equal Opportunity Program).

Paul received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 1969. Hungry for more education, and to set an example for his children, he went on to earn his MBA in 1973 and later, enrolled in law school and received his Juris Doctor degree from Lincoln University Law School in 1979. With his schooling behind him, Paul entered the workforce and found that he had a particular acumen for sales. He held leadership positions in various sales organizations, including National Sales Director for Primerica Financial Services, and excelled in the car industry, claiming the title of Salesman of Month many times over.

But in his heart of hearts, Paul was a businessman with an undeniable entrepreneurial spirit, launching many business ventures throughout his life. From Profile Resume Service to Creative Capital Resources to most recently Real Property Acquisitions, he truly believed the path to financial freedom and mastering your fate was in being your own boss.

Paul enjoyed fishing, having hearty conversations with family and friends, boxing, watching track meets, football and other sporting events and spending time with those he loved, most of all his wife, children and grandchildren.

Paul transitioned to eternal life on November 4th 2022. He is preceded in death by his father John Walter Burghardt, Mother Pauline Olivia Burghardt and brothers John Burghardt and Manuel Burghardt.

Paul leaves to celebrate his life and legacy his wife of 56 years Janice, daughters Tracy Parker and Maya Burghardt, son Paul Elgin Burghardt Jr., brother Douglas Burghardt, brother-in-law James Bircher, son-in-law James Parker, granddaughter, Jayda Burghardt, grandson Miles Parker, and a host of loving nieces, nephews and family.