Penelope BURNETT

BURNETT, Penelope (Pope)

September 18,1942 - April 14, 2014

Born Jackson, Mississippi; Died Austin, Texas.

Penny passed away Monday April 14, 2014 after a long illness. A resident of Austin since 1979 when her husband, Lt. Colonel Terrell Burnett, retired from the US Air Force at Bergstom AFB and undertook a career as a financial adviser. Penny's mother's family were Austin residents, and Penny spent many Christmas and summer vacations here, so regarded their relocation as a home coming. As an Air Force family, she and Terry and their children lived in many parts of the US and in Asia, and Penny learned the love of travel which led to many trips to Europe, especially Italy where she indulged her passion for art history.

Penny's professional career also centered on the arts, beginning as director of the Roseville Art Center in California immediately after graduating from the University of California, Sacramento. Upon moving to Austin, she began work at Laguna Gloria Art Museum and quickly became its Development Director. After a long employment there, she became Director of Development for the University of Texas School of Architecture. Shortly after its founding, Penny took the reins of Development for the Austin Lyric Opera until her retirement because of her illness in 2003.

Among many accomplishments at ALO, she directed the capital campaign which built ALO's offices and studio and the Armstrong Music School on Barton Springs Road designed by Lake Flato of San Antonio She and Terry also organized and led an Austin Opera patron tour to Italy. On several trips Penny and Terry pursued the "Piero della Francesca trail." Penny was an avid reader her whole life, and her interest in design is reflected in all she touched and in the art she collected.

Penny also contributed her talents to All Saints Episcopal Church where she served on the Altar Guild, the Vestry and as Senior Warden. She also instituted the design and installation of All Saints' Columbarium where she will be interred.

She is survived by her husband, Terrell Burnett, daughter Lara Burnett, and brother Harry Pope of Austin. Her son, Christopher Burnett and his wife Stephanie and their children Hayden, Colton, and Lyndon live in Denver Colorado.

In lieu of flowers, Penny's family requests your donations to CurePSP.org (Progressive Supranuclear Palsy) which is seeking advances in treatment of neurological diseases.

Funeral services and interment will be at All Saints Episcopal Church (209 W. 27th St. 78705) at 4 pm on Wednesday April 23, followed by a reception in the Parish Hall.