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Roger Bourdon Obituary
Roger J. Bourdon, 85, died peacefully on February 25, 2023, surrounded by family, after a year of deteriorating health.
He was a history professor at Mary Washington College for over 30 years. Known as "Dr. B" and "Crusader Rabbit" to his students, he was beloved for mentoring, sense of humor, and living fully with a visual impairment. At age 12, Roger lost most of his vision from a mishap in brain tumor surgery and became legally blind. He was educated at UCLA, received a PhD in history, specializing in colonial and revolutionary history. After he retired in 2000, he remained a life-long learner. He advocated for low-vision groups and organizations for the blind. Roger was active in elder studies, and he traveled extensively with his wife and grandkids. He lived with his wife at the University Retirement Community in Davis, California for his last decade.
Roger is survived by his wife of 40 years, Dorothy "Dottie" (LaSalle) Bourdon of Davis, Calif.; son, Jean-Paul "JP" Bourdon of Fredericksburg, Va.; sister, Joan (Bourdon) Carney of Reno, Nev.; daughters, Lisa LaSalle of Marina, Calif., and Janine LaSalle of Davis, Calif.; grandchildren, Alexandra "Alex" Brown, Dante Yasui, Elias Yasui, Jennifer L. Newell, and Martin J. "Christopher" Newell; and great-grandson, James A. Newell. Roger was preceded in death by his first wife, Elizabeth Jeanne (Betty) Vavrek Bourdon.
A memorial service will be held at the University Retirement Community, 1515 Shasta Dr., Davis, CA 95616 on March 29, 2023.
Memories and Condolences
for Roger Bourdon
6 Entries
Kathleen Smith `86
April 2, 2023
I wasn´t a History Major at Mary Washington, but I loved the classes I had with Dr. Bourdon. He was kind and funny as well as exacting.
Ann Jennings
March 27, 2023
Dr. B was my history advisor and the reason I pursued a degree in history. I took all of his classes and learned so much from a master. We all loved when his wife made cookies for us. My deepest condolences to his family. The world lost one of the shining stars.
Ann Jennings 1980
The Herndon family, G.L., Laurie and Joe
March 10, 2023
Dear JP we offer our sincere sympathy to you and your family. Your father was such a special person.
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Brenda Hamilton Hynson
March 6, 2023
Dr. Bourdon was one of Mary Washington College's finest and outstanding professors. His history classes were always so interesting and memorable. I remember his students were so excited to be in his classes. Knowing that they were going to be in for outstanding lectures. With much appreciation! RIP, Dr. Bourdon.
Brenda Hamilton Hynson
Mary Helen Dellinger
March 5, 2023
Dr. Bourdon was my advisor from 1986-1990 at Mary Washington College. An amazing teacher, but an even better person. He helped me through a rough time I was having personally and wascalways checking in with me about classes, etc. His classroom was a place for learning, asking questions, and exploration of all kinds of topics. I will never forget his starting every class with a call for "trivia!" We all tried to come up with the most obscure stuff to share. The world has lost a good one. Godspeed, Dr. Bourdon.
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