Leon A. Burg was born in 1923 in Brooklyn,  New York.   As a young boy, his family moved to Detroit, where he was raised.   After serving in the U.S. Army for three years in the Philippines during WW II , he earned his B.A . at Wayne University in Detroit , and in 1946 married the lovely Blanche Ribiat.   The young couple moved to Chicago, where Leon attended the Illinois College of Optometry, graduating with high honors.   He tutored classmates throughout college and optometry school, always a patient teacher.    

After returning to Detroit, Dr Burg began a private optometry practice.   He especially enjoyed working with children with challenging visual and learning problems, inspiring him to return to WSU for a Masters Degree in special education. Because of his optometry background, he was placed for his coursework in a program for partially-sighted children, called the “sight-saving” program.  He thus began a 43 year teaching career with the Dearborn Public Schools, assisting visually impaired children, and later, after receiving a further degree, as a teacher -consultant of learning disabled children.

Dr Burg helped establish the Michigan Chapter of PTACH, where, for over 30 years, he served as its consultant for the education of Jewish day school children with learning differences.  

Throughout his long teaching career, Dr Burg enjoyed tutoring many children in the community and was passionate about helping individuals achieve success at all levels of schooling, from elementary through college.  

Dr Burg was the beloved husband of Blanche Burg, the devoted father of Sharon Brown, Toby Masher, Dr Sheldon Burg, and Dr Janet Snider, and was blessed with many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  

Detroit Chesed is proud to establish this special fund in Dr. Burg’s memory for the supplemental education of Jewish children in the community.