Jonathon “Jonny” Burgess

By Zak Failla From Daily Voice

A Maryland community is looking to bring some holiday warmth to the young family of Jonathon “Jonny” Burgess, a beloved father, husband, and city employee who was killed in a tragic motorcycle crash earlier this year.

The City of Gaithersburg is showing what community really looks like after the sudden loss of Burgess, 36, who was struck and killed while riding his motorcycle on May 7, on his way to work, according to his obituary.

Burgess was known for his hard work, his bright smile, and the way he could lift any room, coworkers said. He was a key member of the City’s Department of Public Works and the Activity Center, where colleagues say he was always the first to lend a hand and the last to complain.

His sudden death left heartbreak across Gaithersburg and beyond. But in the months since, the community has stepped up to help the people who meant the most to him — his wife, Bailey, and their young son, Seamus, who “cherished his daddy very much,” according to his obituary.

A new holiday GoFundMe campaign launched by his coworkers aims to ease the season for his family. 

“If you ever met Jonny, you knew he was a hard worker, a devoted father and partner, and someone who was truly cherished by his coworkers, friends, peers, and family,” the campaign reads. The goal is to help cover holiday expenses and offer comfort during a season meant for togetherness.

Coworkers are sharing the fundraiser widely. 

“My coworker, Jonathan Burgess, passed tragically in May of this year, and we would love to help make his family’s (Christmas) a little brighter! If you can spare it, please donate,” one colleague wrote in a public post.

It’s not the first time the community has rallied behind the Burgess family. 

An earlier GoFundMe, created by a family friend, described him as “the kindest person who had a heart of gold” and a father whose bond with his four-year-old son was unbreakable.

Burgess leaves behind his wife Bailey, son Seamus, his mother Jerri Metzger, and a long list of family members who loved him deeply. “He worked very hard and loved harder,” his obituary reads.

Now, months after the crash, the support keeps building — a reminder that even in the hardest seasons, Maryland communities show up.

"Anything you can give, no matter the amount, will make a meaningful difference and show Jonathon’s family how deeply their City of Gaithersburg family cares."