A well-known St. Mary’s County community leader is being recognized at a special event on Friday, May 10. For the first time in its 36-year history, Cedar Lane Senior Living Community will host the Cedar Lane Distinguished Service Award Dinner & Silent Auction at the Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship in Piney Point. The inaugural Distinguished Service Award will be presented to local businessman, F. Elliott “Sonny” Burch, Jr., chairman of Burch Oil, in recognition of his more than 23 years of dedicated service to the organization his father helped establish in 1977.
Nearly 200 guests are expected to attend the dinner, which will feature live music, cocktails and a silent auction. “Although we’ve been serving the community for 36 years, this is the first time we’ve attempted an event on this scale, and we’ve have been thrilled with the early response for sponsorships and tickets,” noted Beverly Stickles, president and CEO of Cedar Lane. “This event is not only an opportunity for us to pay tribute to one of our most valued supporters, it’s also an opportunity for us to increase the community’s awareness of the changing and growing needs of local seniors.” Proceeds from the event will help fund programs and services such as daily meals and activities for the more than 200 senior residents at Cedar Lane.
Burch told the Bay Net that he was absolutely excited about the honor. “I am very humbled. I am the first recipient. I think a lot of Cedar Lane.” He noted that his late father, a former county commissioner president, and Pat Jarboe, a revered local family doctor, were in on the institution’s founding.
Burch said of Cedar Lane, “It is absolutely amazing.” He said it was a financial struggle in the early days, especially dealing with HUD for the first two units. But he credited the arrival of Stickles and the staff she has assembled for making it what it is today. “It is just a wonderful facility,” he noted.
Burch and his family will be on hand Friday for the award ceremony.
The event program will include the following bio of Burch: “Sonny was born in St. Mary’s County to F. Elliott Burch, Sr. and Elizabeth Buckler Burch. He graduated from Charlotte Hall Military Academy and attended Western Maryland College. In 1953, Sonny started working at Burch Oil Company, which was founded in 1928 by his grandfather Samuel B. Burch, and continued by his father until his death in 1992. He served as President of Burch Oil Co. for 20 years, and currently serves as Chairman of the Board.
“Sonny has carried on his dad’s legacy of community service and served on the Cedar Lane Board of Directors from 1991 through 2012. He is a past Chairman of the Board and continues to serve as a member of the Board of Friends of Cedar Lane. Throughout the years, Sonny has provided invaluable leadership and generous support in advancing Cedar Lane’s work on behalf of seniors and disabled
