David Burley

East Montpelier, VT
David Everett Burley, 74, of East Montpelier, died of frontotemporal dementia on May 15, 2025, at Woodridge Nursing Home in Berlin, Vermont.
Dave was born in 1950 and grew up in Upper Darby Pennsylvania with his father, Orin Burley, mother, Shirley Smith Burley, and his older brother Don.
He was driven by his curiosity and lived a life full of exploration. As a young man, he and a buddy hopped freight trains and made it all the way to California! He later attended the University of Pennsylvania, earning a degree in Civil Engineering. He began his career working on the Alaska Pipeline. One lonely day in Alaska he saw a flier advertising Land for Sale in East Montpelier, Vermont.
Seeing the ad, Dave recalled his youthful summers in New England and the place where he had met his dear childhood friend and ongoing penpal, Ginny Wallace. With fond memories and that explorer's spirit, he bought, sight unseen, 70 acres on Horn of the Moon Pond in East Montpelier. His next job took him to Saudi Arabia, but he then made it home to East Montpelier. He started working for the State of Vermont, in the Buildings and General Services Department, where he dedicated his entire career. He also began building a house on those 70 acres, which were admittedly a bit hilly, but tranquil and serene. He decided to invite his old friend Ginny up to see his project and to visit his temporary shelter of a poorly insulated Airstream trailer. The rest, as they say, is history. Dave and Ginny were married, the house was built, and along came three kids - Aaron, Hannah, and Cassie. Dave delighted in his children and in his role as a parent. From nighttime songs and stories and epic sledding days down the infamous twisty driveway, to coaching their sports teams, attending concerts, and helping with late night calculus assignments, he was a dedicated, joyful and enthusiastic father. He also never said no to a creemee on the way home. He was proud of them all as they grew to adulthood and headed off on their own adventures.
He was a gifted self-taught woodworker and a lover of the natural world, as evidenced by the unique and beautiful home he created, which included a wooden spiral staircase and an elaborate outdoor obstacle course, zipline included! He hiked to the top of that wooded land every week with his neighbor Danny Cote, built an experimental suspension bridge over a marshy area, and laid his beloved parents to rest near a pond on the land.
Shortly after entering the Grandfather phase of life, it became evident that Dave was suffering cognitive decline. His dearest wish was to remain with his beloved wife, Ginny, for as long as possible, and Ginny granted this wish, providing care for him for most of his final years. He is survived by his wife Ginny, and his children and grandchildren: Aaron (wife Eliza Behrsing and their children Theodora, Alden, Rosalind, and Sylvia) of Fairfax, VT; Hannah (partner Matthew Williams and their son Lochlan) of Portland, ME; and Cassie (partner Luke Alpert and son Wyeth) of Newton, MA. He is also fondly remembered by his brother, and occasional loving heckler, Don (wife Bridget, children Anne and Michael) of Washington, DC.
We are grateful to the best neighbors Ed, Gladys, Paul and Danny Cote, Project Independence, Bonnie Hall, Nancy Gore, Central Vermont Home Health and Hospice, Woodridge, and all the family, friends and neighbors who have helped along the way.
In a final act, his brain has been donated to the University of Vermont and will be shared with Massachusetts General Hospital, which has a large research program for dementia-related processes including Fronto-Temporal Dementia.
Memorial contributions may be made to Youth First Mentoring Program (73 Main St. #29, Montpelier VT 05602), or your favorite charity.
Those wishing to express online condolences may do so at www.guareandsons.com.
A private memorial will be held at a later date.