Robert J. Burnham

I was Bob's roommate at UMass and know that he was an extraordinary person. He was kind, smart, funny and a terrific musician. He had a VW Bug which he would let me use when my girlfriend came to campus. He had a job cleaning up the music department building. I agreed to help him one time and saw a xylophone there. I started to bang on it and Bob interrupted me and started playing on it. I said I didn't know you can play the xylophone. He said I can't. I said YOU JUST DID. That was...

Bob was a gentle and loving man, and he and Gail have been an inspirational couple for many of us. I will miss him.

Bob was my English teacher in high school. I started visiting him regularly after I finished school, and he quickly became one of my best friends. Over more than 40 years, through good and bad times, I could always count on him for an intelligent and non-judgmental assessment of things, and there is no doubt it made a difference. I am immeasurably grateful for having known Bob. Dana Dostal - Friend

Gail, I regret that I did not hear of Bob's passing until now. You have my sincere condolences. Sheila

We all have one teacher that changed our trajectory, and Bob was mine. His passion for teaching and truly seeing his students is unparalleled. I always hoped I´d bump into him in Boulder, where I moved in 2004. Thinking of his family - his lightness will be missed.

Good teachers always leave a legacy, but I'm more familiar with Bob's retirement years - when he, and Gail, made quite a mark on Boulder. His smile and gentle ways will be truly missed.

The coolest teacher at Westfield High. He was a great guy and treated me very good. I searched for him online, 2 weeks ago. I greatly respected Mr Burnham. I'm sad to hear he's left. Condolences to his family and loved ones.

In loving memory of a wonderful person who touched so many lives. You are loved and will be missed.

Bob was a wonderful friend and mentor to me when we met at Syracuse, and we managed to stay in touch over these many years. He was a truly lovely man, sadly missed.