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Peter Burkholder Obituary
Born in Omaha, Nebraska, December 1, 1939, to Beverly M. and Dr. C. Kenneth Burkholder. He graduated from Omaha Benson High School in 1958, having received numerous honors and awards (Westinghouse Talent Search Finalist, National Merit Finalist, Yale National Scholarship, Harvard College Scholarship) and matriculated to Harvard College where he graduated with a B.A., Magna Cum Laude, in philosophy, 1962. Upon graduating from Harvard he was elected Phi Beta Kappa and awarded a national Defense Graduate Fellowship for advanced study in philosophy at Tulane University, Louisiana. He graduated from Tulane with a Ph.D in philosophy in1965, and was hired by Central Washington University as a Lecturer and subsequently served the University for 42 years, retiring in 2008 as Emeritus Professor of Philosophy.
Peter pursued his love reading, teaching, and serving CWU and dedicated his entire life to this end. He enjoyed creating a veritable small forest of trees at his residence, collected antiques and especially cherished his library.
Peter was preceded in death by his mother, father, and brother, Roger Glenn Burkolder. Peter had no children and is survived by six first cousins. A memorial service celebrating Peter's life will be on the campus of Central Washington University, Friday, April the First, 4:00pm to 6:30 pm,, at the Mary Grupe Center. There will be food and beverages available. Please come join us so we can share our memories of Peter.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Peter Burkholder
John Hofer
March 19, 2021
Professor Burkholder had a very dry sense of humor. He would slip humorous comments into his lecture, then watch closely to see whether any of us students had caught it as we furiously wrote notes.
In one lecture, he was talking about the cult of Orphic Enthusiasts, saying that they believed the soul left the body when one sneezed. He also innocently added that these Enthusiasts also were against the eating of beans, a prohibition that seemed rather mysterious to him.
Linnea Lawson
April 21, 2011
My favorite professor!
Rocky Hively
April 1, 2011
Dr. Burkholder was a powerfully thoughtful and considerate man. He was always interested in an incredible variety of ideas and concepts, and tirelessly sought the understanding of each of them. He was truly insatiable in his love for knowledge and whole-heartedly dedicated to his work. He was a true philosopher and a great teacher. He is missed.
Marc Thompson
April 1, 2011
In the course of receiving my undergrad in Philosophy I had the opportunity to take a number of classes from Peter. His knowledge, dedication to the craft, his care for his students, and his understated wit and humor will be missed in this world. His character and well-earned merits enhanced CWU greatly. I will miss him.
Sean Scully
March 31, 2011
It's been about 20 years since I last saw Professor Burkholder. I took a number of classes from him in the 90's. He was a genuinly caring professor. I always remember him as the "Logician". He will be missed.
Stella Besherse
March 29, 2011
I have only known Peter in the last few years as KathyMae's friend and a retired professor, but I enjoyed getting to know him a bit. As I read your entries, I wish I could have known him a little better. He seemed to enjoy coming to our family gatherings and we were always glad to see him at KathyMae's dinners.
Thanksgiving 2009
KathyMae Dickinson
March 29, 2011
KathyMae Dickinson
March 29, 2011
I took 2 classes from Peter before he retired and then worked for him for 2 and a half years doing yard and house work. He was a devoted friend to me, an attentive care taker of his trees, and an ardent collector of books. I most admired him for his careful use of words--when he spoke I knew it would be kind, thoughtful, and exactly what he meant. I have become a better person for having cared for Peter.
March 28, 2011
I met Peter early in my career at CWU where we were on the Faculty Senate together. He was the only one who answered "present" (as opposed to "here") when the roll was called. It was a mark of his uniqueness that I came to appreciate over the years. He was a true intellectual who lived the "life of the mind" we professors always promote, and our university was fortumate to have him.
Corwin King, Emeritus Professor
John Hofer, Ph. D.
March 26, 2011
Dr. Burkholder was one of my philosophy professors at Central in the 1960s. He came always prepared to his classes; took the material seriously; and, most of all, took his students seriously.
With his encouragement and support, I was able to receive an NDEA fellowship at Tulane University to study for my doctorate in philosophy.
During my graduate work, I had the good fortune to teach with Dr. Burkholder at Central during the summer of 1976. It was during that summer I learned what a truly warm, compassionate and intelligent human being he was.
Peace, Old Friend.
Robert Case II
March 25, 2011
Peter was the chairman of the philosophy department for most of my time in the department as an adjunct faculty in the 1990s. When I applied to get a master’s degree in philosophy from Central I was in my 50s – not the customary age for a graduate student. But I had enthusiasm and the department, under Peter was willing to take me on; probably as a charity case since the faculty was distinguished by training, erudition and reputation. Peter was my thesis mentor and I have kept his notes on my thesis since they, alone, constitute a graduate course in empirical philosophy. He thought my worldview was a bit nutty but he treated me with great respect and kindness, in the finest sense of a liberal scholar. I remember well him referring to me as a “colleague” in a class and it made my day. Heck, it made my quarter. I taught under him for several years and I consider it a great privilege to have known him, learned from him and been guided by him.
March 25, 2011
Peter was a wonderful, engaging teacher who really cared about students. He still remembered conversations held 20+ years ago with various students. His wit, kindness, and tireless, faithful service will always light up my life. Rest in peace, dear Professor.
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