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Richard Burns Obituary
Webster: Suddenly, 8/29, at 82. Survived by his dear wife Sigrid Albrecht Burns, cats Howie and Cooper, daughter Laura, brother LeGrand, MD (Cathy) of Berlin, VT, and niece, Andrea. Pre-deceased by his parents G. Richard, and Laura Cannon of Middlebury, VT, and daughter Jennifer Michaelson (Bill) of Lawrenceville, NJ. Mechanical engineer (Yale, '60) mainstay of the Bausch & Lomb, Instrument Division. Lifelong outdoor enthusiast and adult athlete, bicycle commuter and past President (etc) of the Rochester Bicycle Club, canoe racer, team triathlete, x-c skier, multi-talented inventor and craftsman. Slowed by dementia, he kept his characteristic buoyant good nature and gentle wit, to the end. Memorial TBD.
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Memories and Condolences
for Richard Burns
Bernie Kressner
January 24, 2023
I offer my condolences on the passing of Dick. He was my colleague at Bausch & Lomb. A wonderful, creative man, with an uncanny sense of optics and the mechanical devices that would support them. He had a great sense of humor and frankness. Memory Eternal!
karen managan
September 15, 2013
I will miss my skiing buddy. Dick and I XC skied 2-3 times a week during the winter in the local parks right up until he was 80!
We lost a great man.
September 10, 2013
Mentor, friend, consultant and fellow cat lover: Dick will live on in my memories. Andy.
Warren Bergstrom
September 9, 2013
Dick was a friend from college days, UVM Outing Club and a dorm near roomate. We have remained good friends over the years sharing family experiences and bicycling.
As one ages and loses good reliable friends like Dick Burns it hurts. I will miss his crazy laughter and sincere friendship. My (our) best to Sig at this rough time. "Bergy"
Ivan Lennon
September 5, 2013
I remember fondly our trips to The Josh, Great Race etc w/ Carolyn, Terbo et al
Dick and Terbo were technically competent and always a contender along w/ the other Terbo Tri Sport teams.
September 3, 2013
Dick was the ultimate friend, riding companion, compeitor, second grandfather and animal lover to our family for more tha 40 years.
We'll miss you, Dick.
Art, Carolyn, Christopher, Michelle and Gretchen Kriesen.
September 2, 2013
Vacationing on the ancestral home of my Friesean forefathers on the now German island of Sylt I receive the sad message of Dick's passing.
A Ph.D. of Mechanical Engineering and head of the department at Bausch & Lomb, his office next to mine for a long time, Dick was an inventor of numerous patents in the field of Metrology and other fields. He had a gift of just knowing how to do things better. He had a habit of designing, then go to the shop to build it without delay to prove that it worked before releasing it to the regular design path. He usually came to work by bike no matter what the weather and the amount of snow on the ground.
A head-on collision by bike impaired certain functions of his brain but miraculously he kept the sharpness of his thinking to the last. He will be missed by many who worked with him or knew him.
Kurt Kreckel
Niagara Falls 2005
Richard DeSarra
September 1, 2013
I will always remember Dick for the great advice on bicycling he had given me during the 1970s and 1980s. I, like Dick, commuted year-round. His advice on clothing, bicycle setup and care, road skills, etc. made cycling year-round much easier and pleasant.
He also was a great inventor of bicycle safety devices. The early Bell helmets had some of Dick's input. I still use my ‘Burns' head/taillight.
My love and passion for bicycling, in no small way, is due to Dick's help. I would not be a full time bicycle advocate in retirement without Dick's great advice.
To one of my great mentors in my life, Dick Burns, your humor, and love of bicycling will always be in my mind and heart.
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