Herbert F. Burger
Herbert F. Burger, previously CEO of two leading advertising and marketing agencies, died Saturday of natural causes at the age of 87 at his home in Fox Chapel.
Herb was born in Ligonier on March 5, 1930, to Adolph Gustav Burger and Elizabeth Johannsen Burger.
He was well known in advertising and business circles, as the head of Creamer Inc., a $100 million-plus Pittsburgh advertising and marketing company, employing 125 people and creative advertising and public relations for a substantial group of regional and national companies, including Stouffer Foods, Alcoa, and PPG transitions, the Allegheny Conference, plus a group of manufacturing companies and financial organizations. It was the second largest advertising agency in Pittsburgh. The company created a campaign for this region called “Dynamic Pittsburgh,” Pittsburgh's first major ad campaign that was sponsored by Pittsburgh companies and ran 10 full pages in the New York Times and Wall Street Journal.
Herb was co-owner and partner of the real estate investment firm, Speedwell Inc. It develops, manages and invests in residential and commercial property. He also ran a number of private investment funds.
He was involved in a series of Pittsburgh support programs and worked with the Allegheny Conference. He also chaired the Pittsburgh Media group that sponsored national efforts to attract advertising to Pittsburgh newspapers, television and radio stations.
A passionate believer in the possibilities for a vibrant downtown, Herb was a founder of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership and was the first chairman of this organization that continues today to help the city cleanup, grow and attract business and tourists. He was also a principal in the group that started the downtown BID.
After 15 years with Creamer, the agency was sold to a British company, and Herb decided to start from scratch and build a new company, called the St. George Group, the name selected from a painting he and his wife, Jane, had hanging in their study. It was of St. George slaying the dragon.
St. George attracted a fine group of creative people and new accounts over a period of 10-plus years. It became a $70 million company representing a group of business and consumer clients. Herb helped a number of startup companies in Pittsburgh, including Penn Pilsner, the new regional beer started by the Pastorius family.
Herb married Jane Coulter on Oct. 1, 1966. He described her as his “perfect partner.” For many years, they had a second home in Slippery Rock on a pair of waterfalls on the Slippery Rock Creek. They were founding members of SR Development, committed to the renewal of the Main Street and town of Slippery Rock over a period of 15-plus years. This led by happenstance to what he considered his great fortune, a chance encounter with Jack Piatt, a successful developer in Washington County. He persuaded Jack to buy and develop the Lazarus building into Piatt Place and go on and renew and build six other properties in the Center City, including the former State Office Building and Saks Fifth Avenue, plus a new high rise adjacent to Market Square.
Herb was active on the boards of Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation, Slippery Rock Development and Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership and was a member of Trinity Cathedral in Pittsburgh.
Herb was a graduate of Thiel College with a bachelor's in economics, and he returned from military service in Army intelligence during the Korean War to complete his master's in advertising and journalism at Syracuse University.
Herb is survived by the joy of his life, Jane; his son, Matt and his wife, Erin; his daughter, Jennifer and her husband, Brad; and five grandchildren, Lauren, Anna, Ben Kelly, and Emma and Will Burger, all residents of Pittsburgh.
He loved dearly his children and grandchildren and delighted that they elected to live in Pittsburgh.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Robert A. Burger.
When asked about his life, Herb said, “There are always more mountains to climb, but I've had a happy and full life with the ones I found. I've been very blessed with wonderful family and good friends and great experiences.”
BURGER — The funeral service for Herbert F. Burger, who died Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017, will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday at Trinity Cathedral, 6th Avenue, downtown Pittsburgh. Herb will be laid to rest in Slippery Rock Cemetery.Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Smith Funeral Home, 421 New Castle St., Slippery Rock.In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Herb Burger Fund, Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, 925 Liberty Ave., 4th floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222.
