John Robert Burger

John Robert Burger, 84, resident of Kirkland, WA, passed away on July 17, 2025.

Professor John Robert Burger had an established career as a Professor of Electrical Engineering. Following in his father's footsteps he published several of his teachings in the form of textbooks. John Robert's brother and sisters only ever knew him as John, but colleagues and friends he met later in life called him Robert.

Early years

John Robert was born in a rural area of upstate New York and grew up on a 50-acre farm in the Walworth/Ontario area, just a few miles from Lake Ontario. He was the oldest of seven children - two boys and five girls. His parents were Robert James Burger and Margaret Mary (née: Schaefer). He attended grade school in Walworth and graduated from Wayne Central High School in Ontario, NY in 1958. In high school, John Robert developed a strong interest in music, playing trombone in both the school and marching bands - his passion for music stayed with him throughout his life. He also loved tinkering with radios and was active in both the radio and chess clubs. He enjoyed fishing and went on trips with his father to the northern regions of Canada.

Higher Education

John Robert earned a degree in Electrical Engineering from Clarkson University in Potsdam, NY. He then moved to California, earning a graduate degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and later a Doctorate in Computer Engineering from UCLA. His son Terry was born while he was working on his Ph. D.

Career

John Robert worked as a nuclear scientist in the space industry, including a position at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico. While pursuing his doctorate he worked at TRW in Pasadena, CA focusing on satellite electronics. After completing his doctorate, he and his young family - now including daughter Heather - moved to Stockton, CA. After a separation and divorce from his first wife, Marti, both returned to the Los Angeles area. It was then that John Robert transitioned into academia, taking a position as a professor at California State University, Northridge (CSUN), where he found his true calling in teaching.

Interests/Hobbies

From a young age John Robert had a passion for cars, especially Chevrolets, and always kept at least one classic car in the garage to tinker with. He also maintained his lifelong interest in radios, and enjoyed making contacts, holding a HAM radio license under the call sign WB6VMI. After returning to southern California, John Robert's love of music converged with his Scottish heritage through Scottish Country Dancing. He became an instructor for a local heritage society where he met Leone in the late 1980s. They were married in 1992 at the "Wee Kirk o' the Heather" in Glendale, CA.

Over their 33 years of marriage, Robert and Leone moved several times between California and Oregon before settling in Eugene, OR where they started a Scottish Country Dance class that continues to this day. In June 2024, they relocated to Kirkland, WA to be closer to family.

John Robert passed away peacefully in his sleep on the morning of July 17th, 2025.

He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Leone; his children from his previous marriage, Terry Burger and Heather Barnard, and his grandchildren, Matthew Burger, Hazel Barnard and Theodore Barnard. He is also survived by four siblings, Helen Fromer, Karen Paprocki, Ann Maynard and Michael Burger.