Robert Burger

BURGER, ROBERT Of Hotchkiss Grove, Branford, and Locarno, Switzerland, of Swiss origin. Robert graduated Tenafly, NJ High School, followed his brother to Yale, and graduated December 1942 (accelerated class of 1943); he often said Columbia was his back-up school. He met his classmate’s 17 year old sister, Virginia McDonald, sitting in his Ford coupe on 7th Ave, Hotchkiss Grove, in front of their summer home in ‘42. Following ROTC at Yale, he was commissioned in the U.S. Navy with the rank of Ensign and fought against Nazi aggression and Japanese Imperialism during World War II atop gun turret #2 on the battleship USS Alabama. Robert would recall both good times and dangerous times aboard ship and said the ringing in his ears never stopped from the blast of the guns. After receiving an honorable discharge at the rank of Lieutenant, he returned from war, married Virginia, raised 4 children, and retired at age 78 from Loctite Corporation after a long career as a chemical engineer. He was a lifelong resident in summers and in retirement of Hotchkiss Grove. Many friends and acquaintances will remember Bob cycling, swimming, and relaxing around HG, sailing or boating in the Thimble Islands, walking the Trolley Trail, searching for fiddler crabs with his grandchildren on the way to the Stony Creek Market for breakfast or lunch, shopping at Caron’s Corner, and dinner at Lenny’s or Nellie Green’s. Bob was predeceased by Virginia “Ginny” and his son Anthony “Tony.” Bob is survived by his daughter Patricia and Randy Pearson of Poughkeepsie, NY and Tyler Avenue, Indian Neck and their family; his son Peter and Susan Burger and their family of Wilton, CT and Block Island, RI; and his son Robert Burger and Martha Burger and their family of Nashua, NH. He was a lot of things including baby sitter to each his nine grandchildren and his seven great-grandchildren, who knew there always a spot on his lap for them and his devoted attention. He could play with a one- or a five-year-old; he could talk for hours with people whose passions were medicine, engineering, flying, the military, the ocean, biology, music, physics, or politics. To each of his family members, he was “MY dad” or “MY grandpa” because he was so much to each of us, as different as we all are. To his end, Bob was devoted husband to the memory of Virginia, whom he lost over thirty years earlier; he will be buried next to her. He was a man who drew affection and admiration from so many people that they called him grandpa and felt he was theirs as well. He traveled and hiked with the ambition and agility and wonder of a 19 year old. We will carry in our hearts the wish for him to walk back into our lives. Although well-travelled, he was never happier than to be at home in Branford. To all his friends, family and acquaintances: He would wish you all well. A wake in his memory will be from 5:00 to 7:00 PM, Friday, March 7, at the W. S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home, 244 North Main Street, Branford. Funeral service will be held at the First Congregational Church on the Branford Green at 10:30 Saturday morning, March 8, followed by his interment at St. Agnes Cemetery, Branford. There will be a gathering following for friends and family to be announced. For directions and online memorial see www.wsclancy.com.