Photo courtesy of Bedford Funeral Home - Bedford
Bedford, Massachusetts
Apr 15, 1933 – Dec 29, 2021
Robert “Bob” J. Burns, of Lexington and formerly of Bedford, died on December 29, 2021.
Bob was born in Cambridge, MA and attended Rindge Technical High School where he was the manager of the football and track teams for 4 years.
Following graduation, he enlisted in the United States Air Force and served for 4 years during the Korean Conflict.
After his discharge, he attended evening school at Northeastern University and began working at MIT Lincoln Laboratory.
He worked for the Lab for 61 years and for 35 of those years, he managed the Lab’s 51-acre Antenna Test Facility in Bedford. When that closed, he transferred to the LL Flight Facility on Hanscom Air Force Base, where he befriended the pilots, technicians, and airplane mechanics as well as his engineering co-workers.
Bob loved the sea and spent many summers at White Horse Beach in Plymouth. He could most often be found in his boat fishing or lobstering.
Bob was a very active parishioner at St Michael’s Parish in Bedford where he served in many capacities, ushering, singing, Parish Council, lector, altar server, and cooking. He was also an active member of the Knights of Columbus, having served as Grand Knight. The Knights were Bob’s way of serving both his church community and the community of Bedford.
He is survived by his wife, Lynn, his son, Steven and wife Roberta of Hampton, NH, his daughter, Susan Turner and husband Will and their daughters, Sydney and Kate of Newburyport, stepson, Ken Jones and wife Jacqueline and their children Gabriel and Elizabeth of Travis AFB CA, and stepson, Charles Jones and his wife Kathryn and their children, Charlotte and Cullan of Waltham. He is also survived by his brother, Jimmy and wife Margy of Yarmouth Port, his brother, John and wife Carol of Milton GA, and his sister-in-law, Dori of Chelmsford, as well as many nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his sister, Marie and her husband John Brogan as well as his brother William.
Bob truly loved his God and family.
Visitation will be held at Bedford Funeral Home, 167 Great Rd., Bedford, on Friday, January 7, from 3:00-6:00 PM.
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Saturday, January 8, at St. Michael Church, 90 Concord Rd., Bedford, at 10:00 AM. Masks are required at all services.
For a livestream of the Mass: https://my.gather.app/remember/robert-bob-burns
Interment will be at Westview Cemetery, Lexington. With deepest regret, in this time of COVID, Bob’s family will not be hosting a gathering following the interment. It will be held at a future time.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to St. Michael Parish, 90 Concord Rd, Bedford MA 01730.
Read MoreMy deepest condolences to Lynn and family in your loss. I served as a member of the choir with Bob who was always a gentleman and very friendly. He will be missed. God bless.
Bill Linnehan
January 22, 2022
Bob was my first supervisor at Lincoln Laboratory. He became my friend and sometimes mentor for 22 years. He was a fine man, and he will definitely be missed.
Bruce Beighley
January 08, 2022 | Plymouth, MA | Friend
While we only met Bob on a few occasions, he obviously had a profound impact on Rosemary and my life, having been a wonderful stepfather to our son-in-law Ken. He was the sweetest of souls, and led a life very well lived. Quiet but a great sense of humor. I know he'll be missed by everyone, including us. Well done, Bob. Our love and prayers as you join your new and eternal life. Our love and condolences to his entire family. Tim
Tim & Rose Kilzer
January 08, 2022 | Castle Pines, CO | Family
I first met Bob working at Lincoln Lab down at Pax River Naval air base in 2008 for a flight demo. As years went by we worked together off and on. It was always great working with Bob. He was very knowledgable and generous with his knowledge. I still remember the note he put up on the exit to a door in the hangar. "Do well in the world, but more importantly DO GOOD". This reflected his whole life. He was a fixture and a legend at Lincoln. The people he worked with had nothing but good...
Ed Kuczynski
January 08, 2022 | North Billerica, MA | Friend
Peaceful thoughts and prayers to the Burns family.
Bob and I became close only 4 years ago when I started working with him. As we walked the hangar floor and Pylon A, he would test me on wave-guide flange sizes and associated frequencies to make sure "I knew my stuff".
After a time word got back to me that Bob had said to my boss, "this kid knows his stuff"...I loved him for that.
I remember being on the hangar floor many times with Bob, as we started our...
Caleb Burke
January 07, 2022 | Exeter, NH | Coworker
Susan and Stephen, so very sorry for your loss. Bob was a fabulous father and friend. I always enjoyed his company and quick wit. He will be missed.
Nancy Mace
January 07, 2022 | Woburn, MA | Friend
Bob always had a spring in his step and a ready smile/chuckle. I still fondly recall the first time he showed me around the antenna test range of which he was rightly very proud. He clearly enjoyed his work and his co-workers. I learned a lot from Bob and I am a grateful, better person for having known him.
Jeff Gottschalk
January 06, 2022 | Westford, MA | Coworker
Lynn & family- The world is a darker place because of Bob's passing. His deep caring for his family, church and work made the world a much better place. His wit, contagious laughter and Irish leprechaun spirit lifted us all. We shall dearly miss him. Our sympathy to you all for such a loss as this.
Linda & Frank Weeks
January 06, 2022
We are all so much richer to have known and had Bob in our lives for so many years. We’re are blessed. You will be missed Bob Deepest respects for your loss to Lynn , Steve, Bobbi and associated family members
Bob and Kelli Maynard
January 05, 2022 | North Hampton, NH | Coworker
