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CPT Cem M Burgazli

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CPT Cem M Burgazli Veteran

Birth
Death
26 Jan 1998 (aged 37)
Burial
Williamsburg, Williamsburg City, Virginia, USA GPS-Latitude: 37.2603694, Longitude: -76.7065722
Plot
1960 Addition East
Memorial ID
View Source
Cem Burgazli, an assistant coach for the CNU women's basketball team, was killed in a single-car accident Monday while driving home from his part-time job in Richmond. He was 37.

State Police said Mr. Burgazli's sports utility vehicle apparently careened off Interstate 64 in New Kent County and overturned. Mr. Burgazli was not wearing a seat belt, and alcohol was not involved, police said.

Mr. Burgazli, who worked Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at a Goodwill auction house in Richmond, was on his way home to Williamsburg about 1 p.m. when the accident occurred. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Mr. Burgazli was known as ''Coach B'' to the players on Christopher Newport University's women's basketball team and as ''Turk'' - because of his Turkish heritage - to the people he worked with at the Richmond auction house.

But to his wife, Marliss, he was a man of many passions. He satisfied his basketball habit as the only male coach for CNU's women's basketball team, ran a successful auction business in Williamsburg, worked with Goodwill and still managed to spend time with his sons, Conrad, 7, and Chauncey, 5, she said.

''He was a man that could do anything he put his mind to,'' said Mrs. Burgazli, who had been married to Mr. Burgazli for eight years. ''He could cook, garden, strip furniture and do upholstery. He enjoyed working with Goodwill because they were people fighting for a better life, for their sustenance.''

But of all the things he did, she said, basketball was his favorite.

Mr. Burgazli began coaching basketball when he was an Army captain stationed in Korea. His first team captured the Korean championship, and he went on to coach the men's squad at Fort Dix, N.J.

In 1992, Mr. Burgazli helped coach the All-Army women's team that won the Armed Forces Tournament at the Naval Station in Mayport, Fla.

Mr. Burgazli was head coach of the Gloucester High School boys basketball team from 1993 to 1995 and also taught geography and government.

He was in his sixth season as an assistant coach for CNU. Mrs. Burgazli said he had been looking for a full-time job coaching women's basketball. She said he joked that he preferred coaching women because they are better listeners.

The CNU women's basketball team in mid-season is 12-3 overall, 3-1 in the Dixie Conference. The Lady Captains are ranked No. 8 in the NCAA Division III South Region Poll. The team's next game is Saturday at home against Methodist College.

Mr. Burgazli spent last weekend with the team, traveling to games against Ferrum and Averett colleges. They won at Averett but lost to Ferrum.

C.J. Woollum, CNU athletics director, said when women's basketball head coach Cathy Parson learned of Mr. Burgazli's death yesterday morning, she dealt individually with team members who trickled in after hearing of the accident.

''Right now, the shock of the situation is overwhelming,'' Woollum said. ''He was an integral part of the staff. It's going to be a very difficult few days, and I think in the long run this is going to have a sad effect on our program.''

A memorial will be held at St. Martin's Episcopal Church, 1333 Jamestown Road, Williamsburg, on Saturday at 10:30 a.m.

Staff writer Jennifer Williams contributed to this story.

Kimberly Miller can be reached at 247-4740.

Mug (b&w) of Cem Burgazli Edition: Final
Page: C4
Daily Press Inc.
Cem Burgazli, an assistant coach for the CNU women's basketball team, was killed in a single-car accident Monday while driving home from his part-time job in Richmond. He was 37.

State Police said Mr. Burgazli's sports utility vehicle apparently careened off Interstate 64 in New Kent County and overturned. Mr. Burgazli was not wearing a seat belt, and alcohol was not involved, police said.

Mr. Burgazli, who worked Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at a Goodwill auction house in Richmond, was on his way home to Williamsburg about 1 p.m. when the accident occurred. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Mr. Burgazli was known as ''Coach B'' to the players on Christopher Newport University's women's basketball team and as ''Turk'' - because of his Turkish heritage - to the people he worked with at the Richmond auction house.

But to his wife, Marliss, he was a man of many passions. He satisfied his basketball habit as the only male coach for CNU's women's basketball team, ran a successful auction business in Williamsburg, worked with Goodwill and still managed to spend time with his sons, Conrad, 7, and Chauncey, 5, she said.

''He was a man that could do anything he put his mind to,'' said Mrs. Burgazli, who had been married to Mr. Burgazli for eight years. ''He could cook, garden, strip furniture and do upholstery. He enjoyed working with Goodwill because they were people fighting for a better life, for their sustenance.''

But of all the things he did, she said, basketball was his favorite.

Mr. Burgazli began coaching basketball when he was an Army captain stationed in Korea. His first team captured the Korean championship, and he went on to coach the men's squad at Fort Dix, N.J.

In 1992, Mr. Burgazli helped coach the All-Army women's team that won the Armed Forces Tournament at the Naval Station in Mayport, Fla.

Mr. Burgazli was head coach of the Gloucester High School boys basketball team from 1993 to 1995 and also taught geography and government.

He was in his sixth season as an assistant coach for CNU. Mrs. Burgazli said he had been looking for a full-time job coaching women's basketball. She said he joked that he preferred coaching women because they are better listeners.

The CNU women's basketball team in mid-season is 12-3 overall, 3-1 in the Dixie Conference. The Lady Captains are ranked No. 8 in the NCAA Division III South Region Poll. The team's next game is Saturday at home against Methodist College.

Mr. Burgazli spent last weekend with the team, traveling to games against Ferrum and Averett colleges. They won at Averett but lost to Ferrum.

C.J. Woollum, CNU athletics director, said when women's basketball head coach Cathy Parson learned of Mr. Burgazli's death yesterday morning, she dealt individually with team members who trickled in after hearing of the accident.

''Right now, the shock of the situation is overwhelming,'' Woollum said. ''He was an integral part of the staff. It's going to be a very difficult few days, and I think in the long run this is going to have a sad effect on our program.''

A memorial will be held at St. Martin's Episcopal Church, 1333 Jamestown Road, Williamsburg, on Saturday at 10:30 a.m.

Staff writer Jennifer Williams contributed to this story.

Kimberly Miller can be reached at 247-4740.

Mug (b&w) of Cem Burgazli Edition: Final
Page: C4
Daily Press Inc.

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