THE GLENN EDWARD BURGHARDT FAMILY

Glenn Edward Burghardt was born in Merced, California in 1933. He grew up in Oakland, California were he started school at the Horace Mann Grammar School.

He later transferred to the Sherman Grammar School and graduated from the Maxwell Park Grammar School in 1845 where he was the president of the sixth grade class. Attendance at Frick Jr. High School was followed by that of Fremont High School. Glenn met his wife, Laura Cantrell in high school and both graduated from Fremont High School in 1951.

Glenn's interests in life have centered mainly about the natural sciences. All through his early years he had numerous animals as pets, raising pigeons, small animals, chickens, etc. During high school his school friend Donald Buhman introduced him to the tropical fish hobby. This became his future occupation in various forms. After four years at the University of California at Berkeley (1951-1955) where he majored in accounting, personnel and business mangement, he entered active duty in the Naval Reserve, serving until his honorable discharge in 1957. Upon getting out of the Navy, he joined his father in the pet business and operated a combination animal import, tropical fish hatchery and retail pet shop, Exotic World of Pets , in East Oakland.

In 1962 Glenn was requested to join the staff of the Steinhart Aquarium, California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco as an aquatic biologist in charge of the fresh-water department of the aquarium. He remained there until 1975 moving up to assistant director of the world's largest public aquarium. For nine months, he assumed the duties of director due to the death of the famous TV host and aquarium director, Dr. Earl S. Herald.

Glenn married Laura Elizabeth Cantrell in 1963 in Oakland. He and Laura had been school friends at Fremont High School, sharing the same lunch-room table etc. They started their home in San Leandro and remained there until a move in 1975 took them to the country. Fulfilling a life-long dream to live and own a ranch, Glenn & Laura purchased a twenty-acre ranch in Oakdale, California. Their two daughters, Patricia and Kathleen moved to the ranch with them. Son, Michael, was in the U.S. Navy at the time of the move. Glenn's parents also moved to the Oakdale ranch and lived in a mobile home next door.

Glenn setup a commercial tropical fish hatchery and business was excellent until a serious drought in 1977 put an end to the tropical fish business. No water, no fish! At that time, Glenn worked for several summers for in the field department of the Hunt-Wesson tomato cannery in Oakdale. As soon as Glenn and Laura arrived in Oakdale, they made numerous friends and joined many clubs and organizations. Glenn soon became president of the Oakdale Kiwanis Club and Laura became president of the Oakdale Garden Club in which she served for a total of thirteen years. Their affiliations continue to play an important role in their lives. Glenn and Laura both have since been president of the Oakdale Historical Society and Laura had the honor of being president of both the Oakdale Garden Club and Oakdale Women's Club in the same year.

In 1978, Glenn was volunteered for active duty in the U.S. Navy as a Naval Reserve Veteran Recruiter, working in Alameda, California. This required a great deal of absent time from home in Oakdale. He changed positions in 1982 to program manager of the Navy's college scholarship program, NROTC, with his office in Oakland. In 1987 he moved his office to Fresno. Son, Michael joined Glenn at the Oakland office in 1982 and managed the Navy's nuclear power program recruiting until 1987.

During Glenn's time away from home, Laura had to carry the load of running the ranch. In 1985, a dream of Glenn and Laura's came true. The City of Oakdale opened a historical museum and they became volunteer directors. Glenn was appointed general director and Laura was art director.

In December 1992, Glenn retired from active duty in the navy. He continued to work, on a volunteer basis, with the Naval Academy Blue & Gold Officer Program in which he assisted high school students in their applications for appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy. He retired from this position at the end of May 1999. During his time with the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) and the Naval Academy, Glenn has been responsible for assisting high school graduates receive over thirty-five million dollars in scholarships.

Glenn and Laura's son Michael Richard married Marjorie Jorine Hillard in 1982 and they have two daughters, Stefanie Rose and Karilynn Michelle, and a son Jeffrey Michael. The family lives in Oakdale. Michael is employed as a maintenance electrician at the E & J Gallo Winery in Livingston and Marjorie is employed by MCI as a telephone relay operator for hearing impaired persons.

Glenn and Laura's eldest daughter Patricia married Ernest Ordway in September 1996 and lived with her husband in the Sierra foothill town of Arnold until his death in March 1998.

In May 1988, Kathleen Elizabeth Burghardt, Glenn and Laura=s youngest daughter, married Ronald Eugene Scroggins He then changed his surname to Burghardt. They both worked at the same Federal prison facility in Lompoc. Kathy works as a comptroller in the administration office and Ron as a guard. Kathy and Ron have two sons, Chad Michael and Ryan Edward, and one daughter, Katherine Elizabeth. In 1997, their marriage ended in divorce.

Kathleen and Glen Cobb now have a new son, Mitchell Alex and are living in Aurora, Colorado with the other children. Ryan, who has been living with his grandparents, Glenn and Laura, for two years, joined the family in June 1999.